Examining Mentors as Buffers of Burnout for Employees High in Neuroticism

Author ORCID Identifier

Lisa Finkelstein:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2903-7726

Publication Title

Human Resource Development Quarterly

ISSN

10448004

E-ISSN

44079

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Human resource development (HRD) practitioners often implement mentoring programs for the purpose of fostering employee career growth and satisfaction. This study examines a less widely researched function of mentoring—to mitigate employee burnout. Specifically, this study examines mentoring as a buffer of relations between employee neuroticism and burnout symptoms. We also examined the differential effect of mentoring functions (i.e., psychosocial support and career-related support) on relations between neuroticism and burnout dimensions (i.e., emotional exhaustion and cognitive weariness). Survey data were collected from 325 employees from a diverse set of occupations. Self-report measures assessed trait neuroticism, burnout, the presence of mentoring (formal or informal), and the nature of support received from mentors (i.e., psychosocial and career-related support). Psychosocial support and career-related support were negatively associated with burnout. Moderation analyses found weaker relationships between neuroticism and burnout for individuals who received mentoring. Furthermore, psychosocial and career-related support delivered by mentors differentially mitigated emotional exhaustion and cognitive weariness, respectively. Exploratory analyses found that among individuals who had a formal mentor, self-reported levels of neuroticism no longer predicted burnout. Overall, findings suggest that both psychosocial and career-related support provided by mentors may help decrease levels of burnout. Furthermore, HRD practitioners may implement mentoring programs not only as a career-enhancing tool but also as an intervention to improve employee well-being and help employees who might be particularly prone to burnout (i.e., those high in neuroticism).

First Page

281

Last Page

300

Publication Date

9-1-2020

DOI

10.1002/hrdq.21390

Keywords

burnout, career-related support, employee well-being, mentoring, neuroticism, psychosocial support

Department

Department of Psychology

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