The impact of verbal aggression on burnout: An empirical study on university students

Abstract

Undergraduate university students (n=1481) participated in the current study to investigate the effect of verbal aggression on emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy (burnout). The sample of the study has been collected at a university in Northern Cyprus. Results revealed that verbal aggression had a significantly positive relationship with emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, verbal aggression was found to be positively associated with cynicism significantly. In addition, verbal aggression had a significant positive association with reduced professional efficacy. Inclusion of control variables into the equation of regression did not confound the effect of verbal aggression on emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy. The study concludes with implications, limitations, and avenues for future research. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu