Extraversion, workplace support, and burnout: The moderating role of neuroticism

Past research has demonstrated that the Big Five personality dimensions explain up to a third of the variance in burnout, with extraversion typically showing the strongest negative relationship. Guided by social exchange theory, the present study extends these findings by exploring how extraversion relates to burnout, specifically examining the mediating role of workplace support. Further, based on past research, neuroticism is hypothesized to limit the benefits of extraversion through support by moderating the relationship between workplace support and burnout. Based on a final sample of 227 U.S. working adults from a variety of occupations, the results suggest that neuroticism attenuates the indirect effect of extraversion on burnout through supervisor support. Neuroticism, however, does not weaken the indirect effect of extraversion through coworker support. Implications for research and practice are described.