Happy woman happy life! Russian study claims that marriage prevents burnout among employees, especially men
The phrase “happy wife, happy life” may have some science behind it.
Researchers at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, Russia, found that men who are satisfied with marriage experience less burnout as employees.
The team found that a successful career becomes their identity for men, putting a strain on their lives, but having support at home leads to more burnout.
Burnout causes significant mental fatigue and is manifested by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a decrease in personal satisfaction.
The findings also suggested that men who experience more professional success tend to have higher relationship satisfaction.
The study found that as levels of marital satisfaction increase, the risk of burnout decreases, and this correlation is more pronounced in men
A separate report found that more than half of U.S. workers experience at least a moderate degree of burnout.
Meanwhile, the US marriage rate was at its lowest point in 20 years in 2020, according to the CDC.
The new study was conducted using an online survey of 120 female and 83 male employees of Russian business organizations aged 20-69.
In total, 107 were married, 87 were in a relationship and nine were divorced.
Participants were asked to rate their satisfaction with personal relationships and the presence of workplace burnout symptoms.
The study found that as levels of marital satisfaction increase, the risk of burnout decreases, and this correlation is more pronounced in men.
Study author Ilya Bulgakov, a doctoral student at the HSE School of Psychology, said: ‘For men, career success can often become a fundamental aspect of their identity and self-esteem.
As a result, they may experience increased pressure in the workplace and experience increased stress levels as they strive to complete their duties and meet expectations.
“Marital satisfaction and a sense of support in private life may in this context become crucial factors in preventing male burnout.”
He added: ‘People suffering from workplace burnout syndrome often have difficulty disconnecting from their work and therefore remain in a constant state of tension.
‘Consequently, personal relationships serve for them as a means of escape from the pressures of the career race, a source of satisfaction and support. Interestingly, this association has only been observed in men.
“This can perhaps be attributed to traditional social roles, where men are often given greater responsibility for achieving career success, leading to higher workloads.”
The team did look at women, found depersonalization of colleagues and customers, and a decrease in empathy and compassion has a greater impact on the onset of burnout.
“The researchers suggest that depersonalization experienced by women is related to the societal expectations and social roles usually imposed on them within the professional domain,” the team shared in a statement. press release.
The research has been published in the journal Organizational Psychology.