Burnout Phenomenon and Coping Strategies of the PNA Ministries Employees

This study aimed at: 1. Recognizing the extent of burnout phenomenon and the strategies followed by the PNA employees in the West Bank to cope with this phenomenon. 2. Identifying the relation of the burnout and the coping strategies with a number of demographic variable ( gender , academic qualification , marital status and job title ) . The researcher formed the following two questions: 1. What is the extent of burnout of the PNA ministry employees? 2. What is the most used coping strategy which used to reduce the burnout? The researcher tested and verified the following null hypothesis: 1. There are no statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) in burnout level and coping strategies of the PNA employees due to the variables:(gender, academic qualification, experience, marital status and the job title.). 2. There is no significant correlation between the burnout and the coping strategies of the PNA ministries' employees. The study population consisted of ( 1754 ) male and female employees . A random data of ( 360 ) employees ( male & female ) was chosen representing 20% of the original population . The researcher used Maslach Inventory to measure the burnout . He also used the coping strategies questionnaire based on previous studies and the educational literature. The researcher took in to consideration that the coping strategies suited the Palestinian environment The questionnaire was checked by nine professional referees. However, the reliability was calculated by the one application using Cronbach alpha . The results on Maslach scale were (0.85 ) and coping strategies ( 0.89) . To answer the two questions of the study , the researcher used the means and percentages . test was used to test the first and the fourth hypothesis. To test the second, third , and the fifth hypothesis , the researcher used one — way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the ( LSD) for the post Comparisons . Finally , the researcher used the Pearson Correlation to test the sixth hypothesis . Study Findings : 1. .The extent of the phenomenon was moderate regarding the emotional exhaustion and the depersonalization, while it was high regarding the personal accomplishment. 2. The total degree of using the coping strategies of the PNA ministries employees was low. 3. .There were no statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) in the level of burnout of PNA employees on the emotional exhaustion and the personal accomplishment attributed to the gender variable . On the other hand there were statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) on depersonalization among males and females in favor of the females . However there were no statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) of coping strategies of the employees which night be attributed to the gender variable. 4. There were no statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) on the level of burnout attributed to the academic qualification variable. Also, there were no statistical differences at (α = 0.05 ) on all the coping strategies and the total degree, except the fields of recreation and entertainment for the employees which might be attributed to the variable of academic qualification. 5. There were no statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05) in the level of burnout regarding the emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment attributed to the variable of experience. 6. There were no statistically significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) in the burnout level regarding the emotional exhaustion and the personal accomplishment attributed to the marital status variable, while the differences were significant on the depersonalization among single and married employees in favor of the married. Also, there were no statistical significance at (α = 0.05) attributed to the marital status variable, except on the strategy of physical health and in favor of the single employees. 7. There were no statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05 ) of the burnout level attributed to the variable of job title, Also there were no difference at (α = 0.05 ) in the strategies, except the strategy of problem solving attributed to the variable of job title. 8. There was a negative significant correlation at (α = 0.05) between strategies ( physical Health, emotional exhaustion) , and strategies (positive behavior , personal accomplishment) , and strategies (management, depersonalization) and between strategies (problem solving, personal accomplishment). On the other hand, the differences were significant at (α = 0.05 ) between strategies ( withdrawal and returning back to work, feeling inactivity, strategies of (social support, personal accomplishment) , and between strategies of ( positive behavior, personal accomplishment) ,strategies of ( management ,personal accomplishment), and between strategies of (defense means, personal accomplishment),and strategies of (problem solving and the personal accomplishment). There was a positive significant interrelation of coping strategies and personal accomplishment. However, no positive significant correlation at (α = 0.05 ) between :- ( Strategy of good physical health and depersonalization ), ( strategy of physical health and personal accomplishment) , ( strategy of withdrawal and returning back to work , emotional exhaustion),( strategy of social support and emotional exhaustion ) , ( strategy of management and emotional exhaustion ) ( strategy of defense means and personal accomplishment), ( overall degree of coping strategies and emotional exhaustion ), ( strategies of coping and personal accomplishment) The research recommended many suggestions to urge the PNA officials to pay attention to the burnout phenomenon for the purpose of minimizing the spread out of the phenomenon, and activating the level of usage of the coping strategies by the employees of the ANA ministries. This has a great effect on building and institutionalizing the Palestinian society.