Presentation Schedule
When Needs Are Not Met: Competing Affective Pathways and the Emotional Roots of Burnout (104456)
Session Chair: Naim Fanaj
Wednesday, 25 March 2026 14:50
Session: Session 4
Room: Room 705 (7F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Burnout is often described as tiredness or stress, yet deeper psychological mechanisms may explain why some individuals experience emotional exhaustion even in the absence of extreme demands. This study examined how unmet psychological needs shape burnout through competing affective pathways and emotion regulation. Using data from 1,043 participants, a structural equation model tested how need fulfillment influences positive and negative affect, emotion regulation, and ultimately burnout. The results show a clear emotional pattern. When people’s basic psychological needs are not met, negative emotions rise sharply (β = –0.896, p < .001), while positive emotions become harder to access (β = .247, p < .001). Negative affect was the strongest predictor of burnout (β = 2.991, p < .001), revealing a powerful risk pathway. Positive affect supported healthier emotional regulation (β = 1.374, p < .001), which offered some protection, though its effect was modest (β = .099, p = .013). Overall, the model accounted for 67.2% of the variance in burnout. Findings highlight burnout as an outcome of an internal emotional conflict: unmet needs fuel negative affect that overwhelms regulatory processes, while positive affect supports resilience but cannot fully counterbalance emotional strain when needs remain unsatisfied. This dual-process model reframes burnout as an emotionally rooted phenomenon driven by the unmet needs that shape daily experience. Interventions should therefore prioritize restoring need fulfillment and strengthening emotional environments to reduce vulnerability to burnout.
Authors:
Lord Joseas Conwi, De La Salle Medical and Health Science Institute, Philippines
John Kallidukil, Xavier School, Philippines
Gabriel Ian Guiao, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Philippines
About the Presenter(s)
Mr Lord Joseas Conwi is a School Administrator at De La Salle Medical and Health Science Institute in Philippines
See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule
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