THE RELATIONSHIP OF LOCUS OF CONTROL, ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION, PERCEIVED INSTRUMENTALITY AND BURNOUT IN REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSES.
Contributors: Syracuse University.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 193
Subjects: Education, Curriculum and Instruction.
Description: This study sought to investigate motivational factors surrounding the development of burnout in registered nurses. The Demographic Data Sheet, Internal - External Locus of Control Scale, Achievement Motives Scale, Perceived Instrumentality Questions, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were administered to four hundred nineteen registered nurses who volunteered to participate in the study.

The first research question explored the relationship between achievement motivation and burnout. Hypothesis 1 was accepted because registered nurses with high levels of achievement motivation had lower levels of burnout than those with low levels of achievement motivation.

The second research question sought to discover the relationship between perceived instrumentality and burnout. Significant correlations were discovered between perceived instrumentality and five of the six subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

The third research question focused on the relationship between locus of control and burnout. The majority of nurses in this study had an external locus of control. Hypothesis 3 was partially supported. Significant correlations were found between locus of control and four of the six MBI subscales.

The fourth research question sought to replicate previous studies of the relationship between perceived instrumentality and achievement motivation. Hypothesis 4 was partially supported because a significant relationship was found between PI and the Motive - to - Achieve Success Subscale of the AMS.

The final hypothesis, that registered nurses with an internal locus of control, high levels of achievement motivation, and high perceived instrumentality had lower levels of burnout than those with an external locus of control, and lower levels of achievement motivation and perceived instrumentality was supported.

Several limitations to the study were recognized. The model used in this study only accounted for between 4% and 16% of the variance. However, the contributions made to the study of the motivational factors influencing burnout are an important step in the continued search for theory based research models using research designs that permit causal inferences. Additional research is needed to determine strategies for effective prevention and treatment of burnout. As Maslach (1976) noted, burnout is not a function of bad people who are cold and uncaring. It is a function of bad situations in which once idealistic people must operate.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, Section: A, page: 1180.

Thesis (ED.D.)--SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, 1984.

School code: 0659.