Abstract
Orientation: Discrimination leads to burnout in various forms, including emotional exhaustion. The negative effects that result from this relationship may be mitigated by identity, being a psychological resource that contributes to high self-esteem, sense of community and belonging, engagement, meaning, commitment, and satisfaction. Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediation of the relationship between discrimination and burnout by work and ethnic identity in a sample of working Black South Africans. Motivation for the study: No studies were found linking these constructs in the South African context. The pervasiveness of discrimination leads to burnout. Identity, however, can be leveraged to decrease the effects of this relationship, affecting how individuals view themselves, how they interact with others in various contexts including at work, and ultimately their performance therein. Research approach, design and method: This study adopted a cross-sectional design, quantitative research approach, and a combined convenience and snowball sampling method as a part of the greater cross-cultural Experiences @ Work study. Of the 1,242 responses obtained, a sample of n = 403 Black working South African participants were extracted for this study. Psychometric properties, descriptive statistics, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Multivariate Analysis of invariance (MANOVA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used to analyse data. Main findings: The results indicated that work identity is utilised as a resource in decreasing the negative effects that emanate from the relationship between discrimination and burnout. Work identity significantly mediated the relationship between burnout and discrimination. Practical and managerial implications: Being aware of and actively mitigating the effects of discrimination that lead to burnout impacts individuals and ultimately organisations. Providing an environment that allows for the development of work identity in the form of certainty in roles at work, positive working relationships, and positive attributions of self, can be used as a resource to lower the impact of discrimination in the workplace. South African workplaces should assist employees to strengthen work identity while fostering and maintaining environments where discrimination is not tolerated in any form, subtle or overt. This will lead to increased engagement, satisfaction and organisational commitment, productivity, and profitability...
M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)