Structural Equation Modeling in Development and Validating a Scale of Psychological Burnout Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic for Faculty Members in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: A growing body of evidence explains that burnout is a syndrome related to chronic work stress resulting from COVID-19 that the employee has not been able to cope with effectively. Also, COVID-19 has significantly influenced individuals’ mental health. Objective: This study aimed to verify the factorial structure of burnout related to the COVID-19 scale among faculty members in Saudi universities. Methods: This study used the descriptive method. The researcher conducts an online survey involving 321 participants in Saudi Arabia after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sample was randomly selected and consisted of (321) faculty members in Saudi universities (146 males, 175 females) who applied online to the self-rating scale measuring burnout related to COVID-19 prepared by the researcher. Results: There are positive and statistically significant correlation coefficients between the main factor of burnout related to COVID-19 and other factors (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased work accomplishment). The validity and reliability of the burnout related to the COVID-19 questionnaire were verified through Explanatory Factor Analysis EFA, Chronbach's α, and Split-half indexes. Also, the Second Confirmatory factor analysis by structural equation modeling results verified the goodness fit of the hypothesized model. Conclusion: Based on the results, the burnout related to COVID-19 questionnaire can be used, after verifying that it has appropriate and acceptable validity and reliability indicators for faculty members, to diagnose the burnout related to COVID-19 disorder and the transformation of distance learning. Also, these findings provide practical implications for psychological services providers to plan appropriate

Keywords

• burnout
• emotional
• covid-19