[en] Job boredom, a deactivated and unpleasant affective state experienced at work, can become persistent, leading to negative consequences for individuals and organizations. However, the possible co-existence of job boredom with other workplace well-being indicators, such as burnout and work engagement, is still poorly understood. To address this issue, our research expands upon the predominant variable-centered perspective on boredom and employs a longitudinal person-centered approach to investigate the most salient configurations of job boredom, burnout, and work engagement over time and examine job demands and resources as predictors of profile membership. Across two samples, findings revealed distinct well-being profiles, including high-burnout/low-engagement profiles, alongside bored-and-burned-out and mixed profiles. Role conflict was found to predict unfavorable profiles, while autonomy, learning opportunities, and cognitive demands were linked to more favorable combinations. This study advances understanding of job boredom and its associations with other key aspects of workplace well-being, such as burnout and engagement. The paper offers novel insights into how these aspects can be experienced simultaneously and informs strategies to foster employee well-being by promoting favorable configurations.
Research Center/Unit :
LENTIC - Laboratoire d'Études sur les Nouvelles Formes de Travail, l'Innovation et le Changement - ULiège HEC Recherche. Changing workplace and strategic HRM - ULiège
Disciplines :
Human resources management Social, industrial & organizational psychology
Author, co-author :
Toscanelli, Cecilia; UniBE - University of Berne > Department of Work and Organizational Psychology
Parmentier, Michaël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC Liège Research > HEC Liège Research: Changing workplace and strategic HRM ; UCLouvain - Université catholique de Louvain > IPSY
Urbanaviciute, Ieva; Vilnius University > Institute of Psychology
Hirschi, Andreas; UniBE - University of Berne > Department of Work and Organizational Psychology
Language :
English
Title :
The Dynamics of Well-being at Work: Longitudinal Profiles of Boredom, Burnout, and Work Engagement
Publication date :
In press
Journal title :
European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology
Asparouhov, T., & Muthén, B., (2014). Auxiliary variables in mixture modeling: Three-step approaches using Mplus. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 21(3), 329–341. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2014.915181
Bakker, A. B., (2014). The job demands–resources questionnaire. Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Bakker, A. B., Boyd, C. M., Dollard, M., Gillespie, N., Winefield, A. H., & Stough, C., (2010). The role of personality in the job demands-resources model: A study of Australian academic staff. Career Development International, 15(7), 622–636. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620431011094050
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E., (2007). The job demands-resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E., (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056
Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Sanz-Vergel, A., (2022). Job demands-resources theory: Ten years later. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology & Organizational Behavior, 10(1), 25–53. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-053933
Bocéréan, C., Dupret, E., & Feltrin, M., (2019). Maslach burnout inventory–General survey: French validation in a representative sample of employees. SCIREA Journal of Health, 3(2), 24–41. https://hal.science/hal-02480484/document
Collins, L. M., & Lanza, S. T., (2010). Latent class and latent transition analysis with applications in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. Wiley.
Demerouti, E., & Bakker, A. B., (2023). Job demands-resources theory in times of crises: New propositions. Organizational Psychology Review, 13(3), 209–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/20413866221135022
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B., (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 499–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499
De Witte, H., (2005). Job insecurity: Review of the international literature on definitions, prevalence, antecedents and consequences. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 31(4), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v31i4.200
Enders, C. K., (2022). Applied missing data analysis. The Guilford Press.
Farmer, R., & Sundberg, N. D., (1986). Boredom proneness: The development and correlates of a new scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 50(1), 4–17. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5001_2
Fisher, C. D., (1993). Boredom at work: A neglected concept. Human Relations, 46(3), 395–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679304600305
Game, A. M., (2007). Workplace boredom coping: Health, safety, and HR implications. Personnel Review, 36(5), 701–721. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480710774007
Gillet, N., Fernet, C., Blechman, Y., & Morin, A. J. S., (2023). On the combined role of work engagement and burnout among novice nurses: A longitudinal person-centered analysis. Journal of Career Assessment, 31(4), 686–714. https://doi.org/10.1177/10690727221148720
Gillet, N., Morin, A. J. S., Fernet, C., Austin, S., & Huyghebaert-Zouaghi, T., (2024). A longitudinal person-centered investigation of the multidimensional nature of employees’ perceptions of challenge and hindrance demands at work. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 37(5), 558–586. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2024.2324252
Harju, L., Hakanen, J. J., & Schaufeli, W. B., (2014). Job boredom and its correlates in 87 Finnish organizations. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 56(9), 911–918. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000248
Harju, L. K., Seppälä, P., & Hakanen, J. J., (2023). Bored and exhausted? Profiles of boredom and exhaustion at work and the role of job stressors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 144, 103898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103898
Huyghebaert-Zouaghi, T., Morin, A. J. S., Fernet, C., Austin, S., & Gillet, N., (2022). Longitudinal profiles of work-family interface: Their individual and organizational predictors, personal and work outcomes, and implications for onsite and remote workers. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 134, 103695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103695
Innanen, H., Tolvanen, A., & Salmela-Aro, K., (2014). Burnout, work engagement and workaholism among highly educated employees: Profiles, antecedents and outcomes. Burnout Research, 1(1), 38–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burn.2014.04.001
Kawada, M., Shimazu, A., Miyanaka, D., Tokita, M., Sakakibara, K., Mori, N., Hamsyah, F., Yuheng, L., Shojima, K., & Schaufeli, W. B., (2024). Boredom and engagement at work: Do they have different antecedents and consequences?Industrial Health, 62(2), 110–122. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2023-0028
Lehtiniemi, K., Tolvanen, A., Rantanen, J., & Feldt, T., (2024). Occupational well-being profiles and learning climate as an organizational resource: A latent transition analysis. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-024-09512-6
Leiter, M. P., (1993). Burnout as a developmental process: Consideration of models. In W. B. Schaufeli, C. Maslach, & T. Marek (Eds.), Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research (pp. 237–250). Taylor & Francis.
Leiter, M. P., & Schaufeli, W. B., (1996). Consistency of the burnout construct across occupations. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 9(3), 229–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615809608249404
Li, J., Kaltiainen, J., & Hakanen, J. J., (2024). Job boredom as an antecedent of four states of mental health: Life satisfaction, positive functioning, anxiety, and depression symptoms among young employees - a latent change score approach. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 907. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18430-z
Loukidou, L., Loan-Clarke, J., & Daniels, K., (2009). Boredom in the workplace: More than monotonous tasks. International Journal of Management Reviews, 11(4), 381–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00267.x
Mäkikangas, A., Kinnunen, S., Rantanen, J., Mauno, S., Tolvanen, A., & Bakker, A. B., (2014). Association between vigor and exhaustion during the workweek: A person-centered approach to daily assessments. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 27(5), 555–575. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2013.860968
Mäkikangas, A., Kinnunen, U., Feldt, T., & Schaufeli, W., (2016). The longitudinal development of employee well-being: A systematic review. Work & Stress, 30(1), 46–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2015.1126870
Martela, F., (2025). Well-being as having, loving, doing, and being: An integrative organizing framework for employee well-being. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 46(5), 641–661. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2862
Maslach, C., (1993). Burnout: A multidimensional perspective. In W. B., Schaufeli, C., Maslach, & T., Marek (Eds.), Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research (pp. 19–32). Taylor & Francis.
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E., (1986). Mbi: Maslach burnout inventory: Manual (Res. ed.). University of California.
Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P., (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 397–422. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397
Morin, A. J., & Litalien, D., (2017). Webnote: Longitudinal tests of profile similarity and latent transition analyses. Substantive Methodological Synergy Research Laboratory. https://smslabstats.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/0/6/100647486/lta_distributional_similarity_v02.pdf
Morin, A. J. S., & Litalien, D., (2019). Mixture modeling for lifespan developmental research. In A. J. S., Morin & D., Litalien (Eds.), Oxford research encyclopedia of psychology. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.364
Morin, A. J. S., Meyer, J. P., Creusier, J., & Biétry, F., (2016). Multiple-group analysis of similarity in latent profile solutions. Organizational Research Methods, 19(2), 231–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115621148
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O., (2021). Mplus (Version 8.6). Computer software. Muthén & Muthén.
Newman, D. A., (2014). Missing data: Five practical guidelines. Organizational Research Methods, 17(4), 372–411. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114548590
Notelaers, G., de Witte, H., van Veldhoven, M. J. P. M., & Vermunt, J. K., (2007). The short inventory to monitor psychosocial hazards: Combining latent class modeling and structural equation modeling to monitor and to evaluate intervention programs. In J., Pelletier (Ed.), Intervention practices in firms (pp. 161–172). ANACT.
Nylund-Gibson, K., & Choi, A. Y., (2018). Ten Frequently asked questions about latent class analysis. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 4(4), 440–461. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000176
Podsakoff, N. P., Freiburger, K. J., Podsakoff, P. M., & Rosen, C. C., (2023). Laying the foundation for the challenge-hindrance stressor framework 2.0. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology & Organizational Behavior, 10(1), 165–199. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-080422-052147
Rantanen, J., Mäkikangas, A., Puukari, S., Koskela, S., Raudasoja, A., & Silvonen, J., (2024). Multifaceted investigation of occupational wellbeing profiles among guidance counsellors. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 52(3), 546–563. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2023.2247547
Reijseger, G., Schaufeli, W. B., Peeters, M. C. W., Taris, T. W., Van Beek, I., & Ouweneel, E., (2013). Watching the paint dry at work: Psychometric examination of the Dutch boredom scale. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 26(5), 508–525. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2012.720676
Rošková, E., & Faragová, L., (2020). Job crafting, work engagement, burnout: Mediating role of self-efficacy. Studia Psychologica, 62(2), 148–163. https://doi.org/10.31577/sp.2020.02.797
Salmela-Aro, K., Hietajärvi, L., & Lonka, K., (2019). Work burnout and engagement profiles among teachers. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02254
Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B., (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi-sample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 25(3), 293–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.248
Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M., (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701–716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164405282471
Schaufeli, W. B., De Witte, H., & Desart, S., (2019). Handleiding burnout assessment tool (BAT). [Internal report]. KU Leuven.
Schaufeli, W., Desart, S., & De Witte, H., (2020). Burnout assessment tool (BAT)-development, validity, and reliability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249495
Schaufeli, W., Leiter, M. P., Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E., (1996). Maslach burnout inventory-general survey (MBI-GS). In C., Maslach, S. E., Jackson, & M. P., Leiter (Eds.), MBI manual (3rd ed., pp. 19–26). Consulting Psychologist Press.
Schaufeli, W., & Salanova, M., (2013). Burnout, boredom and engagement in the workplace. In T. W., Taris, M. C. W., Peeters, & J., De Jonge (Eds.), An introduction to contemporary work psychology (1st ed. pp. 291–320). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394259564.ch12
Sonnentag, S., Völker, J., & Wehrt, W., (2025). Good and bad days at work: A descriptive review of day-level and experience-sampling studies. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 46(2), 207–226. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2796
Sousa, T., & Neves, P., (2021). Two tales of rumination and burnout: Examining the effects of boredom and overload. Applied Psychology, 70(3), 1018–1044. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12257
Spurk, D., Hirschi, A., Wang, M., Valero, D., & Kauffeld, S., (2020). Latent profile analysis: A review and “how to” guide of its application within vocational behavior research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 120, 103445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103445
Timms, C., Brough, P., & Graham, D., (2012). Burnt-out but engaged: The co-existence of psychological burnout and engagement. Journal of Educational Administration, 50(3), 327–345. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231211223338
Toscanelli, C., Udayar, S., & Massoudi, K., (2022). Antecedents and consequences of technology appraisal: A person-centered approach.Technology. Mind, and Behavior, 3(3), 401–414. https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000081
Toscanelli, C., Udayar, S., Urbanaviciute, I., & Massoudi, K., (2021). The role of individual characteristics and working conditions in understanding boredom at work. Personnel Review, 51(2), 480–500. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-07-2020-0510
Toscanelli, C., Urbanaviciute, I., De Witte, H., & Massoudi, K., (2024). Better bored than burned-out? Cynicism as a mediator between boredom at work and exhaustion. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 52(2), 274–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2023.2219376
Van Hooff, M. L. M., & van Hooft, E. A. J., (2014). Boredom at work: Proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19(3), 348–359. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036821
Warr, P., (1990). The measurement of well-being and other aspects of mental health. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63(3), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1990.tb00521.x
Westgate, E. C., & Wilson, T. D., (2018). Boring thoughts and bored minds: The MAC model of boredom and cognitive engagement. Psychological Review, 125(5), 689–713. https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000097
Zecca, G., Györkös, C., Becker, J., Massoudi, K., de Bruin, G. P., & Rossier, J., (2015). Validation of the French Utrecht Work engagement scale and its relationship with personality traits and impulsivity. European Review of Applied Psychology, 65(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2014.10.003