Change fatigue: Development and initial validation of a new measure
Abstract
Although organizational change often places strain on employees, few studies have explored the impact of multiple organizational changes on their well-being and withdrawal, including organizational commitment and turnover intentions. To provide a means of directly investigating such issues, we developed a measure of change fatigue, and then empirically examined its implications for employees. Using data from change consultants and a manufacturing organization in the United States that had undertaken a number of organizational changes over the last three years, the authors developed a six-item measurement scale, obtained initial evidence of construct validity, and then investigated the relationship between change fatigue and harmful outcomes, including exhaustion, organizational commitment and turnover intentions. Results indicated that change fatigue was positively associated with exhaustion, and exhaustion was in turn negatively related to organizational commitment and positively related to turnover intentions. Implications for organizations and employees facing multiple changes are discussed.
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Change fatigue consists of a three-item instrument adapted from Bernerth et al. (2011).
“Change fatigue consists of a three-item instrument adapted from Bernerth et al. (2011).”
From Creating a workforce of fatigued cynics? A randomized controlled trial of implementing an algorithmic decision-making support tool (2024) · cites this paper as Bernerth et al. (2011)
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“, once altered, foodservices should not revert back to previous practice), this would minimize any possible change fatigue in staff behaviors (51).”
BackgroundLv, M., Zhai, J., Zhang, L., Wang, H., Li, B., Zhang, T., & Moreira, P. (2025) · Health Services Insights · doi:10.1177/11786329251318586 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“Change fatigue was assessed using the six-item Change Fatigue Measurement Scale (CFMS), 37 which has been validated and found reliable in nursing settings.”
Us and Them – First-line Management and Change Resistance
Rønningstad, C. (2018) · Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies · doi:10.18291/njwls.v8i2.106152 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Factors associated with changes in nurses' emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic
Brown, R., Rosa, P. D., Pravecek, B., & Carson, P. (2022) · Applied Nursing Research · doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2022.151659 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“However, the scales used in this study demonstrated good reliability and have been successfully used in several other studies (Bernerth et al., 2011; Brown et al., 2018; Henry & Crawford, 2005).”
BackgroundMethodExploring work-related attributions of sickness absence during organizational change
Grønstad, A. (2017) · International Journal of Workplace Health Management · doi:10.1108/ijwhm-03-2016-0012 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“The results of such studies suggest that the field of organizational change and occupational health may advance by incorporating greater diversity of change type because a high Bernerth et al., 2011).”
BackgroundTurkish Adaptation of Change Fatigue Scale: A Study of Reliability and Validity
LİMON, İ. (2020) · Sakarya University Journal of Education · doi:10.19126/suje.646463 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“…of change, change management and negative reactions to change, unwillingness towards change, uncertainty and readiness for change, team work (Bernerth et al., 2011; Brown, 2016; Brown et al. 2018; Camilleri et al., 2018; Dool, 2009; Elving et al. 2011; Johnson et al, 2016; Lyle, Cunningham…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialEkingen, E., & Yıldız, A. (2021) · OSMANGAZİ JOURNAL OF MEDICINE · doi:10.20515/otd.934637 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Impact of organisational change for leaders in mental health
Frawley, T., Meehan, A., & Brún, A. D. (2018) · Journal of Health Organization and Management · doi:10.1108/jhom-08-2018-0220 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Nilsén, P., Fernemark, H., Seing, I., Schildmeijer, K. G. I., & Skagerström, J. (2022) · Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences · doi:10.1111/scs.13082 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“Research has shown that organisational changes are often associated with employees' psychological uncertainty about how the changes will affect them [18– 20].”
Liu, Z., Yan, X., & Wang, Z. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1696053 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
McMillan, K. (2015) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/1609406915611550 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“The goal of rapid and continuous change is to maximize efficiency in health care (Bernerth et al., 2011).”
BackgroundDee, J. R., Leišytė, L., & van der Meulen, B. J. R. (2023) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781800378216.00006 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Leaders' political skills and organizational change
Ouédraogo, N., Ouakouak, M. L., & Hewapathirana, G. I. (2023) · Global Business and Organizational Excellence · doi:10.1002/joe.22216 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Brown, R. J. (2016) · Open PRAIRIE (South Dakota State University) · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Gan, R. K., González, P. I. A., Fernández‐Tardón, G., Zerbo, A., Calota, V. C., Klöslová, Z., Oțelea, M. R., Fabiánová, E., Rodríguez-Suárez, M. M., & Tardón, A. (2023) · British Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjhp.12706 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Ericson, H. C., Lemons, P. P., Dolan, E. L., Brickman, P., Krishnan, S., & Andrews, T. C. (2025) · CBE—Life Sciences Education · doi:10.1187/cbe.24-07-0175 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Indeed, experiencing too many changes in a short amount of time can create stress for employees, and may negatively impact the outcome of those changes (Bernerth et al. , 2011).”
What is best for Esther? A simple question that moves mindsets and improves care
Vackerberg, N., Andersson, A., Peterson, A., & Karltun, A. (2023) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-023-09870-1 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Another reason for paying more attention to change psychology is that many initiatives for change fail today, and staff often experience “project tiredness” [52] as they do not experience any concrete results of a change project or simply are not informed about it [43].”
BackgroundDoes organizational change trigger civil servant proactivity? The impact of past changes experienced
Verlinden, S., Bach, T., Wynen, J., Kleizen, B., & Verhoest, K. (2023) · Public Management Review · doi:10.1080/14719037.2023.2284225 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“As argued by Bernerth et al. (2011), employees can only handle so much change and disruption before their ability to cope becomes overwhelmed.”
A Cross‐Sectional Survey of Swedish Primary Healthcare Nurses’ Discontent With Their Current Job
Karlsson, E. A., Karlsson, N. E., Fernemark, H., Seing, I., Skagerström, J., Brulin, E., & Nilsén, P. (2024) · Journal of Nursing Management · doi:10.1155/2024/2786600 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Te change fatigue scale by Bernerth et al. [27] is a validated measure originally developed to explore the impact of multiple organizational changes on employee’s well-being, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions [27].”
InfluentialChange ubiquity: employee perceptions of change prevalence from three countries
Brazzale, P. L., Cooper-Thomas, H. D., Haar, J. M., & Smollan, R. K. (2021) · Personnel Review · doi:10.1108/pr-04-2019-0211 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Teknostres, Değişim Yorgunluğu ve Örgütsel Bağlılık İlişkisinin İncelenmesi
KIRAÇ, F. Ç., & Seda, U. Y. A. R. (2023) · Sağlık Bilimlerinde Değer · doi:10.33631/sabd.1351735 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Çi̇çek, İ., Korkmaz, Z., & Ünsal, F. (2026) · Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools · doi:10.1177/20556365261423547 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“This interpretation is consistent with prior work framing quiet quitting as a stress-related withdrawal response shaped by emotional fatigue and motivational depletion (Bernerth et al., 2011).”
Must We Change? the Dark Side of Change and Change Resistance
Zorn, T. E., & Scott, J. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198845973.013.28 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Developing Change Readiness: A Video-Based Classroom Exercise
Varma, V. (2019) · Management Teaching Review · doi:10.1177/2379298118822497 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Prawira, I. S. (2021) · Petra International Journal of Business Studies · doi:10.9744/ijbs.4.1.33-43 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Past research found that unfair treatment of employees will drain their emotions and reduce ACTC (Bernerth et al., 2011).”
BackgroundSchool Administrators’ and Teachers’ Views on Change Fatigue: Turkish Educational System Case
Balyer, A., & Özcan, K. (2024) · Apuntes Universitarios · doi:10.17162/au.v14i1.1460 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Day, G. E., & Shannon, E. A. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781316161777.032 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
DEĞİŞİM YORGUNLUĞUNUN İŞ MOTİVASYONUNA ETKİSİ: SAĞLIK ÇALIŞANLARI ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Özer, A. R. I. K., Öztürk, Y. E., & YEŞİLDAL, M. (2022) · İşletme Bilimi Dergisi · doi:10.22139/jobs.1059519 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Brooks, J. V., Gorbenko, K. O., & Bosk, C. L. (2017) · Quality Management in Health Care · doi:10.1097/qmh.0000000000000128 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
School Administration During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges To Turkish School Administrators
Dilekçi, Ü. (2021) · i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology · doi:10.26634/jpsy.15.1.17920 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Abdelwahid, A. E.-E., & Ata, A. A. (2022) · Egyptian Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences · doi:10.21608/ejnhs.2022.227787 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Yıldızoğlu, H., & Cemaloğlu, N. (2023) · Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi · doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1271471 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Capacity for Competence Development: Unlocking Potential for Lifelong Learning in Later Working Life
Wulff, A. L., & Lassen, A. J. (2024) · Journal of Aging & Social Policy · doi:10.1080/08959420.2024.2349492 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“The feeling of being overburdened by frequent changes has been described as “change fatigue” (Bernerth et al., 2011).”
Change Communication: Emerging Perspectives for Organisations and Practitioners
Crestani, I. (2016) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s2398-391420160000001012 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Zehra, F., & Siddiqui, D. A. (2019) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3510555 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Değişim Yorgunluğunun İşten Ayrılma Niyeti Üzerindeki Etkisinde Tükenmişliğin Aracılık Rolü
Altıntaş, M. (2024) · Hacettepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi · doi:10.17065/huniibf.1383618 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Linnenborn, V., & Borchert, M. (2025) · The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science · doi:10.1177/00218863241297704 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Finally, change fatigue represents a phenomenon observed in practice (MacIntosh et al., 2007; McMillan & Perron, 2013; Valusek, 2007) that has only become part of scienti fi c research in recent years (Bernerth et al., 2011).”
InfluentialOdpor učitelů vůči změnám ve škole a ve školství
Mareš, J. (2018) · Pedagogika · doi:10.14712/23362189.2018.1090 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Designing Innovation in the Digital Age: How to Maneuver around Digital Transformation Traps
Marx, C., Haskamp, T., & Uebernickel, F. (2023) · Understanding innovation · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-36103-6_15 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Wang, Z., Liu, Z., & Lü, J. (2026) · BMC Nursing · doi:10.1186/s12912-026-04419-z · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“A key, underexplored factor is Change Fatigue—a state of exhaustion and cynicism resulting from continuous, poorly managed organizational changes [9, 10].”
Sağlık Çalışanlarında Değişim Yorgunluğu: Sistematik Bir Literatür Taraması
Söyler, S., & Çavmak, Ş. (2024) · Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu dergisi · doi:10.29249/selcuksbmyd.1455183 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Mıhcı, C. (2023) · Trakya Eğitim Dergisi · doi:10.24315/tred.1084119 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Sauvé-Schenk, K., Duong, P., Samonte-Brown, S., Sheehy, L., Trudelle, M., & Savard, J. (2023) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2023.2199462 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“…linked to openness to initiating change [16] (b) change fatigue, which is related to exhaustion and withdrawal in the context of introducing organizational change [17], and (c) the general level of readiness for change, or degree to which a team is motivated and capable of executing a change [18].”
BackgroundEmpathic Communication Part I: Responding to Stress in the Workplace
Tucker, S., & Hoying, J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-16983-0_11 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Hower, K. I., Pförtner, T., Pfaff, H., Lee, S.-Y. D., & Ansmann, L. (2019) · Human Services Organizations Management Leadership & Governance · doi:10.1080/23303131.2019.1661929 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
““Change fatigue” is the perception that too much change is taking place, and is reflected in individual cognitive, emotional and behavioral responses characterized by a reduction in the willingness to change (Bernerth et al., 2011).”
BackgroundTraces of Technological Well-being: Digi-uplifters and Digi-downshifters
Turja, T., Hakanen, J., Krutova, O., & Koistinen, P. (2023) · Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies · doi:10.18291/njwls.137541 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Elhay, E. S. A., El‐Gilany, A., & Abdelhay, I. S. (2022) · Egyptian Journal of Health Care · doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.245105 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Eğitim Örgütlerinde Değişim Yorgunluğuna İlişkin Öğretmen Görüşleri
Çeliker, U., & Levent, F. (2024) · Yaşadıkça Eğitim · doi:10.33308/26674874.2024383770 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bernerth, J. B., Walker, H. J., & Harris, S. G.
- Affiliations
- Louisiana State University (US)
- Texas Tech University (US)
- Auburn University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bernerth, Jeremy B.
- Venue
- Work & Stress
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 321-337
- ISSN
- 0267-8373 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-5335
- OpenAlex
- W2155823771
- Cited by
- 183
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 42 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 5.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Work & Stress (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Change and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Management and Change
- Keywords
- change fatigue, organizational change, employee well-being, exhaustion, organizational commitment, turnover intention, scale development, construct validity, work withdrawal
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