Research on the effect of employees' role ambiguity and role conflict on burnout: Nature Conservation and National Parks application in Türkiye

This study investigates the effects of role ambiguity and role conflict on burnout among employees of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks in Türkiye. A structured questionnaire, consisting of three sections, was administered to 204 randomly selected participants out of a total of 3.894 employees. The questionnaire included scales for role ambiguity, role conflict and Burnout Inventory. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and regression, were conducted to examine the relationships between these variables. The study also examined the impact of demographic factors, including age, gender, occupational status, and period of service, on role stressors and burnout. The findings revealed that younger employees (aged 25-44) experienced higher levels of role ambiguity, while engineers/experts faced greater role conflict compared to administrators. Additionally, female employees were at a higher risk of emotional exhaustion, a key dimension of burnout. Role ambiguity and role conflict collectively explained 35% of the variance in burnout, with role ambiguity having a more substantial impact (r=0.527). These results underscore the need for organisations to support younger and technical staff, clarify roles, and balance workloads to mitigate burnout among their employees.