The Relationships between Problem-Solving, Creativity, and Job Burnout in Iranian Occupational Therapists.

ABSTRACT

Cognitive resources are assumed to have the potential to buffer the negative influence of job demands. In this study, the relationship between burnout, a consequence of job demands, and cognitive resources of problem-solving and creativity was investigated. There were 50 occupational therapists that completed three standardized instruments assessing problem-solving, creativity, and burnout. Using multiple regression analysis and the Independent-Samples t-test to analyze the data, results showed that cognitive resources were inversely associated with burnout [R2 = 0.38, F (4, 45) = 6.94, p < 0.001] and comparison analysis showed significant differences in creativity between males and females (p = 0.04). Significant positive correlations were also found between creativity and working experience whereby higher levels of creativity associated with more working years. Problem-solving and creativity require attention in occupational therapy because they may mitigate against burnout as the consequence of job demands. A possible implication would be the necessity of empowering occupational therapists' cognitive resources.