Retaining volunteer mediators: Comparing predictors of burnout

Abstract

Retention of the estimated 30,000 U.S. volunteer community mediators is critical to provision of high‐quality services. Although workers’ retention and burnout is well researched, retention of volunteers such as community mediators is less understood. Survey data of 53 volunteer mediators were analyzed. For volunteer mediators, burnout and intent to remain for 2 years were significantly negatively associated. Using a self‐determination‐based basic needs satisfaction scale, more relatedness satisfaction predicted lower burnout for volunteer mediators, while competence satisfaction and autonomy satisfaction did not. This association held, even when controlling for mediators’ experience in the field and self‐care behaviors.

Innovative Thinking in Volunteer Organizations and Leaders: Addressing the Impact of Psychological Ownership on Volunteer Commitment

“…Harmon-Darrow & Xu compared predictive variables of burnout, exploring strategies to retain volunteer mediators. They discovered that enhancing lateral associations among mediators could be an effective and pragmatic management strategy, serving well the participants, volunteer mediators, and programs, and preventing job burnout [33].…”

The Association Between Adaptive Reserve, Burnout, and Stress Among Rehabilitation Counselors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Future research might examine the resilience factors or personal traits that mediate the effect of burnout and turnover intentions despite the perceived high stress or low scores on specific components of the Adaptive Reserve Scale. The mediating factors explored in other fields include emotional competence (Rey et al, 2016); cognitive appraisal in evaluating the ability to cope (Gomes et al, 2013); coping resources (cognitive restructuring and functional beliefs; Gnilka et al, 2017); and relatedness satisfaction (Harmon-Darrow & Xu, 2018). In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaningful living positively correlates with resilience and psychological wellbeing (Arslan et al, 2020).…”

Building peace through systemic compassion

“…Yet, with this habituated change, the risk of burnout from the emotionally intensity of such experience was possible, most notably when the practitioner observed enhanced suffering despite their efforts toward conflict mitigation. A recent study has shown that a significant number of conflict resolution volunteers who were trained to offer mediation serve experienced burnout in the form of increased emotional exhaustion and a decreasing sense of personal accomplishment (Harmon‐Darrow & Xu, ).…”