Understanding the Role of Role Clarity in Mediating the Relationship Between Workload and Burnout
Keywords:
Workload, Role Clarity, BurnoutAbstract
The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of role clarity in the relationship between workload and work burnout among employees in Romania. This research adopted a descriptive correlational design. A total of 400 full-time employees from various sectors in Romania participated in the study, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires: the Quantitative Workload Inventory (QWI) for workload, the Role Clarity subscale of the Role Conflict and Ambiguity Scale for role clarity, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey (MBI-GS) for work burnout. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted using SPSS-27 to explore the relationships among the variables. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed in AMOS-21 to assess the mediating effect of role clarity on the link between workload and burnout, and to evaluate the overall fit of the proposed model. The results revealed that workload was positively correlated with burnout (r = .53, p < .001) and negatively correlated with role clarity (r = –.41, p < .001). Role clarity was also negatively associated with burnout (r = –.46, p < .001). The structural model demonstrated good fit indices (χ²/df = 2.08, CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .052). SEM analysis confirmed that role clarity significantly mediated the relationship between workload and burnout, with both direct (β = .45, p < .001) and indirect effects (β = .16, p < .001) being statistically significant. These findings suggest that high workload increases burnout levels, but the presence of clear role expectations can mitigate this effect. Enhancing role clarity within organizations may serve as a critical strategy for reducing employee burnout and improving workplace well-being.
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