Work engagement and executive exhaustion

an analysis based on clusters

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2026.1.48633

Keywords:

positive psychology, executives, exhaustion

Abstract

This study investigated clusters of engagement and exhaustion among 124 executives from private companies (M = 46.75 years; SD = 7.34; 60.48% male) and their relationship with occupational self-efficacy, meaning of work, and work demands. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire covering the variables of interest. The analysis identified three clusters: (1) low engagement and high exhaustion (n = 43), (2) moderate engagement and moderate exhaustion (n = 52), and (3) high engagement and low exhaustion (n = 29). Cluster 1 showed lower averages of self-efficacy and meaning of work, as well as higher averages of demands. The results suggest that work engagement is associated with personal and organizational resources, highlighting the importance of organizational policies aimed at executives that promote self-efficacy and the meaning of work to prevent exhaustion and increase engagement.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Renata Cavalcante Albuquerque, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

Holds a PhD in Psychology (UNIFOR) and a Master’s degree in Administration from the Federal University of Ceará (2010). Earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Federal University of Ceará (2002) and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the State University of Ceará (1999). Serves as a professor in postgraduate programs (at UNIFOR, UNICHRISTUS, and ESTACIO) in the fields of clinical psychology and organizational/work psychology. A certified career counselor (trained by Instituto do Ser, 2019). Possesses over 20 years of experience in management.

Patrícia Oliveira Lima, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

Holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Fortaleza (2019). Has experience in the field of Clinical Psychology. Holds a master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Fortaleza, with research focused on digital abuse among intimate partners. A member of the Laboratory for the Study of Complex Systems (LESPLEXOS) within the Graduate Program in Psychology at the University of Fortaleza (PPG - UNIFOR).

Normanda Araujo de Morais, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

Holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), and a master’s degree, doctorate, and postdoctoral degree in Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). She is a tenured professor in the Graduate Program in Psychology at the University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR) and coordinator of the Laboratory for the Study of Complex Systems: Couples, Families, and Community (LESPLEXOS). A recipient of a level 1C Research Productivity Fellowship from CNPq, she conducts research in Human Developmental Psychology, with an emphasis on contexts of social vulnerability, family and community resilience, violence, sexual and gender minorities, and families.

References

Albuquerque, R. C., & Morais, N. A. (2025). Engajamento no trabalho e exaustão de executivos: Uma revisão narrativa de literatura. Revista Ciências Administrativas, 31. https://doi.org/10.5020/2318-0722.2025.31.e14971

Algabbani, M. F., Abduljabbar, R., Babtain, R., Alharthi, R., Alfaddaghi, S., Bin Zuair, H. M., Alshehri, S., Alhammad, S. A., Abdelkader, S. MI., Gawad, R. FM., Almurdi, M. M., Tounsi, N., & Shaheen, A. (2025). Relationship between levels of burnout and self-efficacy with hand grip strength and hand dexterity among nursing students: Cross-sectional study. WORK, 84(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/10519815251406249

Andric, J. T., Mezzomo, V. B., Boucinha, D., & Gonçalves, J. (2023). Engajamento no Trabalho no Ensino Superior Privado: Um Estudo de Caso. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 24(2), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.26707/1984-7270/2023v24n0212

Aubouin-Bonnaventure, J., Chevalier, S., Lahiani, F. J., & Fouquereau, E. (2024). Well-being and performance at work: a new approach favourable to the optimal functioning of workers through virtuous organisational practices. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 32(4), 608-623. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-01-2023-3584

Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273-285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056

Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Sanz-Vergel, A. (2023). Job demands–resources theory: Ten years later. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10(1), 25-53. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-053933

Cárdenas, M.C., Eagly, A., Salgado, E., Goode, W., Heller, L.I., Jauregui, K., Galarza Quirós, N., Gormaz, N., Bunse, S., Godoy, M.J., Rocha Sánchez, T.E., Navarro, M., Sosa, F., Aguilera, Y., Schulmeyer, M., Tanure, B., Naranjo, M., Soto, B.H., Darre, S., & Tunqui, R.C. (2014). Latin American female business executives: An interesting surprise. Gender in Management, 29(1), 2-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-06-2013-0067

Carneiro, L. L. (2021). Contribuições da teoria de demandas e recursos do trabalho para compreensão de fenômenos positivos da relação indivíduo-trabalho-organização. In Vazquez A. C. S., & C. S. Hutz (Orgs.), Psicologia positiva organizacional e do trabalho na prática (2a ed., pp. 223-253). Hogrefe.

Carneiro, L. L., Medeiros, G. T., Araújo, I. S. D., & Abbas, M. A. A. (2023). Demandas e recursos no trabalho mediado por plataformas digitais: uma revisão de escopo da literatura. Organizações & Sociedade, 30(104), 110-140. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-92302023v30n0004PT

Damásio, B. F., Freitas, C. P. P. D., & Koller, S. H. (2014). Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (OSS-SF): Adaptation and evidence of construct validity of the Brazilian version. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 15(1), 65-74. http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/rbop/v15n1/08.pdf

Dutra, V. R., & Ceretta, P. S. (2020, Outubro 14-16). Remuneração de executivos em empresas brasileiras listadas: O impacto do prestígio, do desempenho, da governança corporativa e da experiência do CEO. [Apresentação de Trabalho]. EnANPAD 2020. http://arquivo.anpad.org.br/abrir_pdf.php?e=Mjc4NTI=

Eisenberger, R., Rhoades Shanock, L., & Wen, X. (2020). Perceived organizational support: Why caring about employees counts. Annual review of organizational psychology and organizational behavior, 7(1), 101-124.

Eisenberger, R., Wen, X., Zheng, D., Yu, J., Liu, Z., Zhang, J., Wang, L., Kim, T.-Y., Krivacek, S., Zagenczyk, T. J., Joo,

M.-K., Mesdaghinia, S., Lee, D.-R., & Kim, T.-H. (2025). Does felt obligation or gratitude better explain the relationship between perceived organizational support and outcomes? Group & Organization Management, 50(1), 243-288. https://doi.org/10.1177/10596011231180388

Farsen, T. C., Boehs, S. T. M., & Silva, N. (2023). História de vida de executivos e resiliência no trabalho: Interfaces e relações. Interação em Psicologia, 27(3), 274-284. https://doi.org/10.5380/riep.v27i3.86049

Geremia, H. C., Luna, I. N., & Silva, N. (2026). Realização Profissional e Engajamento no Trabalho de Docentes. Educação & Realidade, 51, e135754.

Hansen, A. K. L., Kirkegaard, T., Gayed, A., Jacobsen, C. B., & Dalgaard, V. L. (2026). Associations between psychosocial work environment factors and the well-being of frontline hospital managers: A cross-sectional study. Health Care Management Review, 51(3), 231-242. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000481

Lagios, C., Lagios, N., Stinglhamber, F., & Caesens, G. (2023). Predictors and consequences of work alienation in times of crisis: Evidence from two longitudinal studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current Psychology, 42(26), 22866-22880. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03372-9

Leonardo, M. D. G. L., Pereira, M. M., Valentini, F., de Freitas, C. P. P., & Damásio, B. F. (2019). Adaptação do Inventário de Sentido do Trabalho (WAMI) para o contexto brasileiro. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 20(1), 79-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.26707/1984-7270/2019v20n1p79

Llorens, S., Salanova, M., Chambel, M. J., Torrente, P., & Ângelo, R. P. (2022). Organizational drivers of burnout and work engagement: A multilevel study in Portuguese firefighter brigades. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074053

Lottermann, F., Giongo, C. R., & Oliveira-Menegotto, L. M. D. (2021). “Eu Não Tenho Direito de Me Desanimar”: Sofrimento no Trabalho de Executivos. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 37. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e37523

Marôco, J. (2011). Análise estatística com o SPSS Statistics (5a ed.). Report Number.

Mazzetti, G., Robledo, E., Vignoli, M., Topa, G., Guglielmi, D., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2023). Work engagement: A meta-analysis using the job demands-resources model. Psychological reports, 126(3), 1069-1107. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211051988

Pacheco, J., Schmitt, M., Bortoluzzi, D. A., & Lunkes, R. J. (2019). Características dos executivos do alto escalão e a influência no desempenho: Um estudo em empresas listadas na Bolsa Brasileira. BASE - Revista de Administração e Contabilidade Da Unisinos, 16(1), 59-83. https://doi.org/10.4013/base.2019.161.03

Revelle, W., & Zinbarg, R. E. (2009). Coefficients alpha, beta, omega, and the glb: Comments on Sijtsma. Psychometrika, 74(1), 145-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-008-9102-z

Rigotti, T., Schyns, B., & Mohr, G. (2008). A short version of the occupational self-efficacy scale: Structural and construct validity across five countries. Journal of Career Assessment, 16(2), 238-255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072707305763

Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi‐sample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(3), 293-315. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.248

Schaufeli, W. B., Desart, S., & De Witte, H. (2020). Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)-Development, Validity, and Reliability. International Journal of Environmental Research and public health, 17(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249495

Soave, L. S. (2024). Relações dos recursos pessoais no bem-estar no trabalho em professores brasileiros durante a pandemia de COVID-19. [Dissertação de Mestrado]. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.

Steger, M. F., Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Measuring meaningful work: The work and meaning inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment, 20(3), 322-337. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072711436160

Vazquez, A. C. S. (2021). Trabalho saudável em tempos de pandemia. In A. C. S. Vazquez & C. S. Hutz (Orgs.), Psicologia Positiva Organizacional e do trabalho na prática (2a ed., pp. 15-33). Hogrefe.

Vazquez, A. C. S., Magnan, E. D. S., Pacico, J. C., Hutz, C. S., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2015). Adaptação e validação da versão brasileira da Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Psico-USF, 20(2), 207-217. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-82712015200202

Sinval, J., Vazquez, A. C. S., Hutz, C. S., Schaufeli, W. B., & Silva, S. (2022). Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT): Validity Evidence from Brazil and Portugal. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031344

Downloads

Published

2026-10-26

How to Cite

Cavalcante Albuquerque, R., Oliveira Lima, P., & Araujo de Morais, N. (2026). Work engagement and executive exhaustion: an analysis based on clusters. Psico, 57(1), e48633. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2026.1.48633

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 1 (2026): Single Volume - Continuous flow

Section

Psico Aberta para Submissões

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Renata Cavalcante Albuquerque, Patrícia Oliveira Lima, Normanda Araujo de Morais

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)