Stress, Burnout and Employees Suicide Ideation: The Moderating Role of Social Support

Abstract

The study was a cross-sectional survey that assessed the influence of stress and burnout on suicide ideation among the formal and the informal sector employees of Ghana. The study also assessed social support as an ameliorating factor in the association between stress, burnout, and suicide ideation. The role of the sector of work on suicide ideation was also assessed. Three hundred and thirty-eight (n=338) employees were recruited from formal and informal organizations for the study. Data collection was done through the use of Job Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Pansi Suicide ideation, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. The Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient, Independent sample t-test, and the Regression analysis were used in data analysis. The results indicated that there was a positive association between organizational stress and employees’ suicide ideation. There was a positive correlation between organizational stress and employees’ burnout. There was a positive correlation between organizational burnout and employees’ suicide ideation. Social support moderated the correlation between stress and employee burnout. Social support moderated the relationship between stress and suicide ideation. There was no significant difference between employees’ suicide ideation, stress, and burnout in the formal and informal sectors. All the demographic factors were not significant predictors of suicide ideation, burnout, and stress except marital status. The implication of these findings suggests that suicide is partly explained in terms of stress and burnout. However, social support ameliorated the consequences of stress and burnout on suicide ideation. Findings were discussed based on existing studies and theoretical framework.