Psychological determinants of efficiency loss: attachment styles and burnout

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present the documented relationships between individual attachment styles reported by adults, and job burnout defined as a syndrome of work efficiency loss. In addition to highlighting the role of childhood patterns and their impact on adult professional life, the article also discusses direction of practical use of this interdisciplinary framework in the field of HR. Design/methodology/approach: The study of the literature and research findings related to the theory of attachment and its correlates with burnout, as well as the study of the current reports on burnout scale, definition and legal regulations. Findings: Evaluation of the research findings revealed the gap in theoretical knowledge and practical application of the attachment concept in organizations, especially with regard to Polish workplaces and burnout problem. Research limitations/implications: Application of attachment concept in burnout research may require a dedicated tool with reference to work setting, as proposed by Leier et al., 2015. Practical implications: The article promotes interdisciplinary approach, also with possibility of use in multicultural work settings; introduces a relatively new framework for stress/burnout intervention and prevention aimed at increasing quality of social environment and support systems. Research on the relationship between attachment style and occupational burnout has implications for HRM. Understanding employees' attachment types can assist organizations in adapting stress management and burnout prevention strategies by creating a supportive work environment, attentive recruitment and leadership, adjusting coaching and mentoring techniques, and promoting autonomy and extensive support for employees. Social implications: In the face of currently observed burnout scale, both in Poland and globally, it is crucial to undertake actions toward reducing its spread. Building employees’ awareness and stress resilience through better self-knowledge and modification of less effective operational models (i.e. non-secure attachment style), may be valuable for employees and managers. Research on relationship between attachment styles and burnout also provides a solid basis for organizational level interventions, as a better care and investments in more balanced and harmonious work environments. Originality/value: Application of the psychological concept of attachment style typology to the field of work psychology, especially in Polish context; identification of the possible areas of implementation with the use of HR tools in reducing burnout.