Journalists cover traumatic major events such as disasters or smaller incidents as part of their job (Smith et al., 2018). Broadcasting distressing events can have negative psychological implications for them such as burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, sleep disorders and social dysfunction (Greenberg et al., 2009; MacDonald et al., 2016; Simpson & Boggs, 1999). According to Smith et al. (2018) between 86% and 100% of journalists are exposed to traumatic work-related events over their careers. Journalists are frequently exposed to distressing situations, react promptly, and can be considered first responders akin to emergency personnel (Frey, 2023). As first responders, journalists often encounter traumatizing scenes and face the risk of injury or death, frequently without having adequate training (Smith et al., 2018).
Journalists frequently experience also indirect exposure to traumatic events, such as interacting with survivors of trauma, or handling tasks like editing news coverage (MacDonald et al., 2016; McMahon & Lyall., 2019). Journalists may report on the same story multiple times, leading to continuous interactions with the victims. This emphasis on obtaining stories from distressed individuals play a key role in the development of burnout symptoms (Maslach et al., 2001). Burnout is a syndrome of being worn out, caused by prolonged exposure to chronic stressors, and is characterized by symptoms of emotional exhaustion and a sense of reduced professional efficacy (Maslach et al., 2001). Journalists operate within an organizational context that is largely unaware of the psychological risks associated with their work (MacDonald et al., 2016). Journalism has undergone a variety of changes including reduced costs and staff size. Therefore, this change is associated with higher workload, constant deadlines and irregular hours for journalists. These demands on journalists diminish their ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which in turn worsens their psychological effects and leads to job burnout (MacDonald, Saliba, Hodgins, et al., 2016). Another aspect of journalists’ burnout is that regardless their experience, they are at risk of burnout when they strive to uphold high standards in an environment with limited control, insufficient staffing and tight budgets (Newman, 2018).
Numerous studies examining the work of journalists and its impact reveal alarming levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout among these professionals (Gascón et al., 2021; Monteiro et al., 2016). According to a systematic review of the literature relating to the experience of burnout in journalists, most studies assessing burnout in journalists have used the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (MacDonald, Saliba, Hodgins, et al., 2016). Several studies have reported that young females with fewer years of journalism experience working in small circulation size newspapers are most at risk of burnout whereas editors and reporters seem to experience higher levels of burnout than those in other roles (Jung & Kim, 2012; Reinardy, 2011, 2013). Other work-related factors contributing to burnout include limited workplace autonomy, low perceived organizational support, insufficient income, lack of involvement, weak peer support and inadequate physical comfort in the workplace (Reinardy, 2013). Acknowledging the emotional pressures of journalism, our study examines the relationship between resilience, social support and job burnout among journalists.
Resilience refers to how one acts during a traumatic event and the subsequent capacity to adjust effectively (Frey, 2023). Being resilient entails having the capability for positive adjustment, enabling an individual to live a good life following a traumatic experience. The study of resilience has gained significant scholarly attention among professionals in occupations characterized by high levels of stress and burnout such as nurses (Delgado et al., 2021) and police officers (McCraty & Atkinson, 2012). While studies in journalism and specifically in the topic of resilience are underdeveloped, existing rare studies suggest that activities that promote well-being, such as maintaining a good diet and regular exercise, enhance resilience and, consequently, better prepare individuals to handle job burnout (Šimunjak, 2023; Youssef-Morgan & Dahms, 2017). Journalists’ resilient behaviors may include avoidance strategies, such as withdrawing from dangerous situations, which help with self-protection and maintaining emotional control (McMahon & Lyall., 2019). Literature suggests that experience and being confident in their role are important elements for managing burnout and enhancing self-care (Hughes et al., 2021). Resilience may affect not only the quality of media output but also journalists’ job satisfaction, well-being and mental health (Thomson, 2021). According to Smith et al. (2018), journalists may experience fewer psychological consequences with better psychological preparations and a supportive organizational environment.
Social support is linked to experiencing more positive psychological effects (Weinberg, 2017) and it is a protective factor for journalists’ mental health (Hatanaka et al., 2010; Newman et al., 2003). The two main types of social support are formal and informal support. The first one refers to support from healthcare professionals, government agencies and the media organizations, while informal support is given by family, friends, and coworkers (Weinberg, 2017). Literature suggests that journalists, regardless of their experience levels, are at risk of burnout when they have insufficient staffing support and organizations are liable if they do not provide appropriate support (MacDonald et al., 2016). Reinardy (2008) found that perceived organizational support was not associated with emotional exhaustion whereas Reinardy (2013) reported that journalists experiencing low levels of organizational support had significantly greater levels of fatigue. Journalists who feel confident that they receive organizational support for their work and well-being are found to be happier experiencing less stress (Šimunjak & Menke, 2023). Instead, the perceived lack of organizational understanding and support is related with higher stress levels (Holton et al., 2023). Moreover, Pyevich et al. (2003) highlighted the importance of social support as a way of handling and reducing professional stress and Weinberg (2017) found that significant informal social support minimizes negative phycological effects and serves as an important resource linked with positive well-being. Research also suggests that peer support in terms of practical advice and emotional support, is helpful in lessening emotional stress and handling work-related feelings (Hughes et al., 2021; Thomson, 2021). Consequently, both organizational and social support have been found to contribute to journalists’ well-being. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study until now has investigated the relationship between resilience, social support and job burnout in journalists. Thus, our aim was to investigate the relationship between resilience, social support and job burnout in a sample of journalists in Greece.