Effortful Perseverance as a Buffer against the Impact of Workplace Incivility on Burnout among Human Service Professionals

Abstract

Background: Workplace incivility subtle, low-intensity deviant behavior with unclear intent to harm has emerged as a serious concern in high-stress occupations such as healthcare and education. It significantly contributes to psychological strain, job dissatisfaction, and professional burnout. However, personal attributes like effortful perseverance, a key facet of grit, may act as protective factors that mitigate these negative effects. This study aimed to investigate whether effortful perseverance moderates the relationship between workplace incivility and burnout among human service professionals.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 545 human service professionals (184 men and 358 women), aged 25 to 50 years, comprising doctors, nurses, dentists, and teachers. Participants were selected through convenience sampling from hospitals and universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They completed the Workplace Incivility Scale, the Burnout Short Measure (BSM-10), and the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S). Correlation and moderation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships among the variables.

Results: The findings of this study revealed that workplace incivility was significantly positively associated with burnout, whereas effortful perseverance showed a significant negative relationship with both workplace incivility and burnout. Moreover, effortful perseverance significantly moderated the relationship between workplace incivility and burnout, reducing its adverse impact. This moderating effect was consistent across all subscales of incivility, except for Workplace Disrespect and Intrusive Behavior.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the value of effortful perseverance as a psychological buffer against workplace stressors. Strengthening this trait in human service professionals may enhance resilience and reduce the risk of burnout, supporting healthier and more productive work environments.