Occupational Stress and Burnout Among Lawyers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the associations between occupational stress measured through job demand control (JDC), and burnout among lawyers in Sri Lanka. The job demand-control model and the burnout model are among the most used theoretical frameworks that relate job characteristics to health and well-being of individuals. This study included 290 respondent lawyers practicing in the metropolitan districts in Sri Lanka. Karasek's job content questionnaire was used to measure occupational stress, while the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory were used to measure personal, work-related and client-related burnout. Regression analysis was used to determine the association between occupational stress and burnout among lawyers. Lawyers reported relatively high scores of job control and psychological job demand. They also reported high social support. High levels of personal burnout and client-related burnout were also reported. Personal burnout and work-related burnout were associated with psychological job demand.