Occupational stress and burnout amongst staff working with people with an intellectual disability

Abstract

The Occupational Stress Inventory (Osipow & Spokane, 1987) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach, 1982) were used to assess the levels of occupational stress and burnout amongst staff providing services to people with an intellectual disability both in an institutional and community settings. Data were analyzed to determine the effects of direct client contact, staff mental health, and working environment (institution vs. community). While levels of burnout and occupational stress were not high overall, staff working in an institutional setting scores more highly.

The Relationship of Occupational Stress, Psychological Strain, and Coping Resources to the Turnover Intentions of Rehabilitation Counselors

“…Rehabilitation counselors serve as advocates and sources of support for persons who may not be able to negotiate the complicated and ever increasing system of resources that is available. As advocates that serve traditionally neglected populations, they have a well-documented history of high job turnover (Barrett, Riggar, Flowers, Crimando, & Bailey, 1997;Crimando, Riggar, & Hansen, 1986;Razza, 1993) and little job satisfaction (Barrett et al, 1997;Riggar, Hansen, & Crimando, 1987). Despite this, there are few significant studies that have been interested in professionals in rehabilitation; instead the primary focus has been on the clients (Garske, 1996).…”

“…To further compound matters; access to community resources may be difficult, there might be an increased necessity for advocacy on the part of the counselor in conjunction with having to contend with intensive client needs (psychological and physical), emotional demands from clients (Shinn et al, 1984) or working with unmotivated or difficult clients (Garske, 1999) as well as a decreased perceived worth of persons with disabilities by society. In addition, high turnover, low job satisfaction, and high job availability inevitably translates into less educated and under-trained individuals assuming occupational roles that may be beyond their capabilities (Barrett et al, 1997). Finally, individuals may be moving up the ranks faster into administrative positions in order to account for staff shortages.…”

“…Finally, individuals may be moving up the ranks faster into administrative positions in order to account for staff shortages. This translates into a majority of today's rehabilitation administrators having sparse or a complete lack of education or training concerning management and administration (Barrett et al, 1997).…”

“…Consequently, although burnout is not the only factor of turnover, Razza (1993) addresses it as a likely determinate factor. Turnover is a detrimental problem in the field of rehabilitation, with the cost of personnel turnover per rehabilitation facility estimated to be $164, 908 per year (Barrett et al, 1997). Due to the potential for stress to develop among rehabilitation counselors, this research study will also examine whether rehabilitation counselors are using coping resources in practice as well as whether there is an existing relationship between stress, strain, coping, and turnover intentions.…”

“…With the continuing trend toward high turnover in the field of rehabilitation counseling (Barrett et al, 1997) it is imperative to rehabilitation counselors and the clients they serve to identify factors associated with occupational stress and its relationship to turnover intentions. This information is applicable to the following populations: (a) counseling students interested in pursuing a career in rehabilitation counseling, (b) current rehabilitation counselors, (c) rehabilitation administrators, (d) counselor educators, and (e) other researchers in the field.…”