Determinants of general fatigue and emotional exhaustion: a prospective study

The present study was undertaken to determine the factors that predict general fatigue and emotional exhaustion over two years. Because fatigue is hypothesized to be persistent, general fatigue and emotional exhaustion at baseline were included as predictors. A model of mediators and moderators of the stress-health relationship (Taylor and Aspinwall, 1996), was employed to select the other variables. A sample of the Dutch working population (N = 325) completed questionnaires concerning demographic variables, personality and temperament, work pressure and workload, perceived social support, perceived stress, and coping strategies. Emotional exhaustion and general fatigue, measured two years later, were the outcome variables. Structural equation modeling indicated that general fatigue and emotional exhaustion are rather persistent. Furthermore, workload predicted both emotional exhaustion and general fatigue. Finally, emotional exhaustion was predicted by hardiness, whereas general fatigue was predicted by strength of inhibition.