The Consequences of Emotional Burnout Among Correctional Staff

Abstract

The vast majority of past correctional staff burnout studies have focused on the possible antecedents of job burnout. Far fewer studies have been published on the possible outcomes of burnout among correctional staff. This study examined the effects of the emotional exhaustion dimension of burnout on life satisfaction, support for treatment, support for punishment, absenteeism, views on use of sick leave, and turnover intent among 272 staff at a state-run Midwestern maximum security prison. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis of survey data indicated that emotional burnout had significant negative associations with life satisfaction and support for treatment and significant positive relationships with support for punishment, absenteeism, views on use of sick leave (i.e., a right to be used however the employee wishes), and turnover intent. The results indicate that job burnout has negative outcomes for both staff and correctional institutions.

Emotional exhaustion is associated with work related stressors: a cross-sectional multicenter study in Malaysian public hospitals

“…The EE dimension refers to the feeling of being drained and fatigued emotionally and psychologically from work. 25 It was reported that EE is a critical element of burnout in the literature and it is the most widely reported and analyzed dimension among the three subscales of burnout. Maslach et al, reported that "when people describe themselves as experiencing burnout, they are most often referring to the experience of emotional exhaustion".…”

“…Using the EE subscale of the MBI-HSS, the EE total score was categorized into low, moderate and high by summing the raw scores and then categorizing as low (less or equal to 16), moderate (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) or high (greater or equal to 27). 21,24 The mean EE of doctors was 18.5 ± 11.6 and the EE score ranged from 0 to 48.…”

Work Characteristics as Predictors of Correctional Supervisors’ Health Outcomes

“…Burnout is also linked to health outcomes, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease risk. 34,36,39 Burnout in correctional officers has been studied 5,40-43 and linked to increased sick leave, higher medical expenses, mental illnesses such as anxiety/depression, 42 and lower life satisfaction. 43 There is a deficiency of research on the physical and psychological impacts of work in correctional supervisors, a group that likely experiences elevated rates of burnout.…”

El agotamiento emocional está asociado con factores estresantes relacionados con el trabajo: Estudio multicéntrico y transversal en hospitales públicos de Malasia

“…La dimensión AE se refiere a la sensación de estar extenuado y cansado emocional y psicológicamente a causa del trabajo. 25 Según consta en la bibliografía, el AE es un elemento fundamental del burnout y la dimensión más frecuentemente informada y analizada de las tres subescalas del burnout. Maslach et al informan que cuando las personas dicen de sí mismas que están sufriendo burnout, la mayoría de las veces se refieren al agotamiento emocional.…”