The relationship between personality traits and burnout has been researched extensively. The current study conducted among UK office workers uniquely aimed to investigate the relationship between acoustic privacy, personality type and burnout.
Although the link between acoustic privacy and burnout is less clear, the evidence shows that acoustic privacy affects stress levels, distractions, the ability to concentrate and job satisfaction. The current study uniquely aimed to investigate the relationship between acoustic privacy, personality type and burnout.
A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional correlational design was used to measure the correlations between acoustic privacy, personality traits, and burnout and the relative contributions of acoustic privacy and five dimensions of personality to reported levels of burnout in UK office workers. The study focused on three factors of acoustic privacy: Noise environment, Noise Distractions and Noise Types.
Fig. 1 Questionnaires used in the study
Results
All three factors of acoustic privacy were found to be significantly correlated with the burnout dimensions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. Significant correlations were found for the personality traits extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Agreeableness and neuroticism were found to be predictors of burnout.
Fig 2. Burnout Dimensions and Correlations
Conclusions
This study supported the alternative hypothesis that there would be a relationship between acoustic privacy, personality traits and burnout and significant correlations and predictors were found. Overall, the findings put forward a compelling argument for considering acoustic privacy and personality traits when assessing the causes and implications of burnout in the workplace.
This research builds on previous findings but uniquely brings together variables that had not previously been compared within the same study. An essential outcome is to elicit new research into the recent increase in the home/hybrid working phenomenon amplified by the Covid pandemic. This study may also help further research related to workplace design, worker health, well-being and performance and the development of practical guidance.
