The Effect of Spiritual Nature Connectedness and Positive Relations on Burnout of BPO Employees
Keywords:
Spiritual Nature Connectedness, Positive Relations, Burnout, BPO, SDG#4Abstract
Burnout adversely affects occupational well-being, manifesting as negative work-related attitudes, reduced performance, and maladaptive behaviors. Nonetheless, an elevated level of spirituality diminishes the incidence of burnout. Despite these findings, the impact of spiritual nature connectivity and positive relationships on burnout has not been investigated in any study. Thus, this study investigates the effect of spiritual nature connectedness and positive relations on burnout among BPO employees, using a causal-comparative research design and a cross-sectional survey. Data were obtained from 514 BPO employees in Manila using non-probability purposive sampling with participants required to have a minimum of one year of tenure and be at least 18 years old. Participants were chosen based on their freely given informed consent and the completion of standardized assessments evaluating spiritual nature connectedness, positive relations, and burnout levels. Findings reveal that BPO employees possess a keen sense of spiritual nature connectedness, have moderately prominent levels of positive relations, and have elevated levels of burnout. Moreover, there are substantial positive correlations between spiritual nature connectedness and positive relations, but both variables are negatively associated with burnout. Further, the results indicate that spiritual nature connectedness and positive relations serve as effective mechanisms for alleviating burnout among BPO employees. Based on findings, it is recommended that future research should examine the long-term effects of these protective factors to ascertain if their buffering ability remains consistent over time or declines under escalating systemic pressure. Furthermore, BPO industries may want to transition from conventional, transactional wellness programs to emphasize relational and ecological treatments.
References
Adow, A., Safeer, M., Mohammed, M., Sayeed, A., & Sulphey, M. (2024). A synthesis
of academic literature on eco-spirituality. Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2024.04.40
Andreychik, M. (2019). Feeling your joy helps me to bear feeling your pain:
examining associations between empathy for others’ positive versus negative
emotions and burnout. Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.08.028
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory on taking stock and
looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3) https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056
Billet, M., Baimel, A., Schaller, M. & Norenzayan, A. (2025). Ecospirituality. Current
Directions in Psychological Science, vol. 34(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/096372214241304326
Brossoit, R., Crain, T., Leslie, J., Fisher, G., & Easkman, A. (2024). Engaging with nature
and work: associations among the built and natural environment, experiences outside, and job engagement and creativity. Frontiers in Psychology, volume 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1268962
Candelario, C., Fullante, M., Pan, W., &Gragorio, E. (2024). Integrative review of
workplace health promotion in business process outsourcing industry: focus on the Philippines. Public Health in Practice, volume 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100476
Carreno, S. & Benitez, S. (2025). Spirituality and burnout syndrome in employees in
small companies in mexico. Espirales Revista Multidisciplinaria De Investigacion, 9(53), 27-41. https://doi.org/10.31876/er.v9i2.884
Cheng, X., Lui, J., Lui, H., & Lu, S. (2021). A systematic review of evidence of additional
health benefits from forest exposure. Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbanplan.2021.104123
Chhajer, R. & Bapat, S. (2025). Exploring the impact of nature connectedness on well-being
and mental distress among urban youth: evidence from 25 most populated cities in
india. PLOS One, 30;20(5). https://doi.101371/journal.pone.0323712
Chirico, F., Sharma, M., Zaffina, S., & Magnavita, N. (2020). Spirituality and prayer on
teacher stress and burnout in an Italian cohort: a pilot, before and after controlled study. Frontiers in Psychology, volume 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02933
Conceocao, A. & Palma-Moreira, A. (2025). The relationship between occupational
stress, burnout, and perceived performance: the moderating role of work
regime. Administrative Sciences, 15(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15100377
Dal Corso, L., De Carlo, A., Carluccio, F., Colledani, D., & Falco, A. (2020). Employee
burnout and positive dimensions of well-being: a latent workplace spirituality profile analysis. PLOS ONE, 15(11). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242267
Dy, M. & Dy, E. (2024). Connectedness to nature, spirituality, and resilience among
selected filipino adolescents. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research
and Analysis, Volume 7. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v7-i05-23
Du, J. & Miao, L. (2022). Business process outsourcing (BPO): current and future
trends. International Research in Economics and Finance; vol, 6, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.20849/iref.v6i3.1253.
Falguni, L. & Roopa, R. (2023). Assessment of workplace environment of bpo
employees. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews; vol. 10(2). E-ISSN: 2348-1269.
Feeney, B & Collins, N. (2014). A new look at social support: a theoretical perspective
on thriving through relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868314544222
Fernet, C., Gagne, M., & Austin, S. (2010). When does quality of relationships with
coworkers predict burnout over time? the moderating role of work motivation. Journal
of Organizational Behavior, 31. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.673
Gaekwad, J., Moslehian, A., Roos, P., & Walker, A. (2022). A meta-analysis of
emotional evidence for the biophilia hypothesis and implication for biophilic
design. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.200.750245
Gawrych, M. (2024). Associations between nature connectedness and mental health –
mediating effects of coping strategies. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
2. https://doi.org/10.12740/APP/174178
Geng, L., Xu, J., Ye, L., Zhou, W., & Zhou, K. (2015). Connections with nature
and environmental behaviors. PLOS ONE, 10(5): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127247
Giao, H., Vuong, B., & Tushar, H. (2020). The impact of social support on job-related
behaviors through the mediating role of job stress and the moderating role of locus
of control: empirical evidence from the Vietnamese banking industry. Cogent Business
& Management, volume 7, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1841359
Hassan, N. & Samy, N. (2024). Predictive power of emotional and spiritual intelligence on
work-related burnout. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, Vol. VIII, Issue VIII. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS
Hechanova, G. (2013). The call center as a revolving door: a philippine perspective.
Personnel Review, 42(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/00483481311320444
Hobfoll, S.E. (2001) The Influence of Culture, Community, and the Nested-Self in the
Stress Process: Advancing Conservation of Resources Theory. Applied Psychology,
50, 337-421. https://doi.org/10.1111/1464-0597.00062
Hombrados-Mendieta, I. & Cosano-Rivas, F. (2011). Burnout, workplace support,
job satisfaction, and life satisfaction among social workers in spain: a structural
equation model. International Social Work, 56 (2). https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872811421620
Howell, A., Dopko, R., Passmore, H., & Buro, K. (2011). Nature connectedness:
associations with well-being and mindfulness. Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 51, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.037
Innstrand, S., Langballe, E., Espnes, G., Falkum, E., & Aasland, O. (2008). Positive and
negative work-family interaction and burnout: a longitudinal study of reciprocal
relations. Work & Stress, Volume 22, no. 1. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02678370801975842
Johnson, T. & Shamroukh, S. (2024). Predictive modeling of burnout based on
organizational culture perceptions among health systems employees: a comparative
study using correlation, decision tree, and Bayesian analyses. Science Reports,
14(1). https://10.1038/s41598-024-56771-2
Kamatsis, I. & Francis, A. (2013). Spirituality mediates the relationship between
engagement with nature and psychological well-being. Journal of
Environmental Psychology, 36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.07.013
Kumar, N. (2019). Determinants of stress and well-being in call center employees. Journal
of Management, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.34218/JOM.6.3.2019.002
Li, L., Liu, M., & Ito, K. (2021). The relationship between the need to belong and
nature relatedness: the moderating role of independent self-construal.
Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 12. https://10.3389/fpsyg.2021.638320
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and
its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
Memon, Q. & Yusoff, I. (2024). The moderating effect of social support on emotional
exhaustion and flourishing among academicians in pakistan. International Journal
of Academic Research in Business & Social Sciences, 14(10). https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i10/22950
Mertika, A., Mitskidou, P., Stalikas, A. (2020). Positive relationships and their impact
on wellbeing: a review of current literature. Psychology: The Journal of the
Hellenic Psychology Society, volume 25., No. 1. https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.25340
Mohamed, T., Roslan, S., Zaremohzzabieh, & Ahrari, S. (2022). Schoolteachers during
online classes amid covid-19 pandemic: the moderating role of gender. International Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Educational Research, vol. 21, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.3.16
Nieva, A. (2024). Personality traits as predictors of pro-environmental behavior: evidence
from the philippines. Bedan Research Journal, Vol. 9. https://doi.org/10.58870/berj.v9i1.68
Nieva, A., Quilon, A., Santos, G., & Santander, N. (2025). Do gender and age matter in
pro-environmental behavior? A non-experimental quantitative study. International
Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Sciences, Volume IX, Issue XVII. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.917PSY0075
Paschalia, M., Antigoni, M., Christos, P. & Anastassios, S. (2021). Positive
relationships questionnaire: a pilot study. Psychology, 12, 1039-1057. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2021.127062
Perrins, S., Varanasi, U., Seto, E., & Bratman, G. (2021). Nature at work: the effects of
day-to-day nature contact on workers’ stress and psychological well-being.
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127404
Preston, J. & Biamel, A. (2020). Toward a psychology of religion and environment.
Current Opinion in Psychology, 40:145-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyc.2020.09.013
Popov, B., Popov, S., & Nastran, M. (2023). Does nature work? Effects of workplace
greenery on employee well-being. Primenjena Psuhologija, Vol. 16, No. 1. https://doi.org/10.19090/pp.v16i1.2409
Quilon, A. (2025). Moderating effect of eco-caring on workplace stress and burnout of
female employees. Bedan Research Journal, 10(1).https://doi.org/10.58870/berj.v10i1.84
Quilon, A. (2024). Role of eco-spirituality in psychological well-being of selected
working women. Bedan Research Journal, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.58870/berj.v9i1.70
Rahe, M. & Jansen, P. (2024). What predicts well-being: connectedness to oneself, nature,
others, or the transcendent? Cogent Psychology, volume 11, Issue 1. https://doi.org//10.1080/23311908.2024.2371024
Ramanathan, C. S., Juvva, S., Stephens, N., Scheyett, A., & Dutta, S. (2025). Spirituality,
social work practice, and sustainable development. Journal of Religion & Spirituality
in Social Work: Social Thought, 44(2), 154–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2025.2475900
Ramces, D., Buncad, Y., Perez, Y., Velasco, R. (2022). BPO industry in achieving
socio-economic development inclusiveness and local governance in the Philippines; v14, no. 2. https://doi.org/10.54989/msd-2022-0012.
Richardson, M., Dobson, J., Abson, D., Lumber, R., Hunt, A., & Moorhouse, B.
(2020). Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale a
leverage points perspective. Ecosystems and People, Volume 16, Issue
1. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2020.1844296
Rios-Rodriguez, M., Moreno, M. & Moreno-Jimenez, P. (2023). Nature in the office:
a systematic review of nature elements and their effects on worker stress
response. Healthcare, 11(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11212838
Rosa, C. & Collado, S. (2019). Experiences in the nature and environmental attitudes
and behaviors: setting the ground for future research. Frontiers in Psychology,
10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpdyg.2019.00763
Ryff, C. (2014). Psychological well-being revisited, advances in science and practice.
Psychother Psychosom; 83(1):10-28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000353263.
Ryff, C., Almeida, D., Ayanian, J., Carr, D., Cleary, P., Coe, C., & Williams, D. (2007). National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), 2004-2006: Documentation of the Psychosocial Constructs and Composite Variables in MIDUS
II Project 1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and
Social Research.
Ryff, C. & Keyes, C. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, Volume 69, NO. 4, 719-727.
Sahak, S., Roslan, S., Ahmad, N., Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Mohamad, Z., & Ma’rof, A.
(2024). Spirituality and nature connectedness as mediators between exposure to nature and psychological well-being of school students. Environment and Social Psychology, volume 9, Issue 5. https://doi.org/10.54517/esp/v9i5.2346
Santander, N. (2025). Mending humanity’s broken inner ecology: an integral ecology and
theory in action towards ecological preservation. Bedan Research Journal,
10(1). https://doi.org/10.58870/berj.v10i1.78
Santander, N., Nieva, A., & Quilon, A. (2026). A scoping review of the benedictine rule
of leadership: a contemporary analysis based on galbraith and galbraith. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, Volume X, Issue IV. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100400184
Saud, J. & Rice, J. (2024). Stress, teamwork, and wellbeing policies: a synergistic approach
to reducing burnout in public sector organizations. Administrative Sciences,
14(12) https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14120319
Sahni, P. & Kumar, J. (2021). Exploring the relationship of human-nature interaction
and mindfulness: a cross-sectional study. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture,
volume 24. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2021.1890704
Schaufeli, W. & De Witte, H. (2023). Burnout assessment tool a fresh look at burnout.
Krageloh, C., et al. (eds). International Handbook of Behavioral Health Assessment, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89738-3_54-1
Segrin, C., & Rynes, K. (2009). The mediating role of positive relations with others
in associations between depressive symptoms, social skills, and perceived stress.
Journal of Research in Psychology, volume 43, Issue 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2009.05.012
Smollan, R. (2017). Supporting staff through stressful organizational change. Human
Resource Development International, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2017.1288028
Stott, D., Forde, D., Sharma, C., Deutsch, J., Bruneau, M., Nasser, J., Vitolins, M., & Milliron,
B. (2024). Interactions with nature, good for the mind and body: a narrative review. Int
J. Environ Res Public Health, 12;21(3). https://doi.10.3390/ijerph21030329
Suganthi, L. (2019). Ecospirituality: a scale to measure an individual’s reverential respect
for the environment. Ecopsychology, Volume 11, No. 2. DOI:10.1089/eco.2018.0065
Taylor, P. & Bain, P. (1999). An assembly line in the head: work and employee relations in
the call centre. Industrial Relations Journal, 30.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2338.00113
West, C. P., Dyrbye, L. N., & Shanafelt, T. D. (2018). Physician burnout:
contributors, consequences, and solutions. Journal of Internal Medicine, 283(6).
https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12752
Yao, Z., Li., M., & Liu, H. (2025). Cultivating care through nature: a meta-analysis of
nature connectedness and prosociality. Sustainability, 17(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310580
Yildirim, G., Willison, J., & Bentley, B. (2026). Nature connectedness framework
for adolescents: an integrative review. Frontiers in Psychology,
17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1721907
Zeng, Q., Yang, Z., Chen, Z., & Chen, P. (2025). The relationships between
nature connectedness, nature contact, and positive psychological outcomes:
a meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102675
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Annabel Quilon
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
cITATION
