Voices from the Field: Addressing Job Burnout in School Psychology Training Programs

Abstract

Job burnout among school psychologists represents a potentially serious issue given widespread shortages of practitioners. It is then important to identify effective strategies for both preventing and responding to feelings of burnout when they occur to ultimately ensure a healthy workforce. The current study examined written responses provided by 122 practicing school psychologists in the Southeastern United States to the question, "What do you think training programs can do about the issue of burnout in school psychology." A qualitative thematic analysis of responses resulted in the identification of three main themes: develop specific personal/professional skills, modify professional/training components, and modify administrative/ organizational policies and seven associated sub-themes. Resulting themes are discussed in reference to specific recommendations training programs can take in the future to better address job burnout in the field.

Bullying at Work and Its Impact on Job Satisfaction: An Exploration of School Psychologists

“…Subsequently, Schilling et al (2018) reported that 19% of respondents indicated having thoughts about leaving the field and almost 22% reported leaving their current position. This trend is expected to increase with the aging of those in the profession and individuals confronting challenges to their job satisfaction through issues such as burnout (Schilling & Randolph, 2020).…”

Perceptions of work and work engagement among school psychologists in Sweden

“…School psychologists have been found to be at risk for developing burnout due to multiple responsibilities, work overload, engagement in caring for others, and shortages of practitioners (George-Levi et al, 2020;Schilling & Randolph, 2020). It can be considered quite alarming, albeit not very surprising, that many practitioners in the field experience less-than-ideal working conditions like lack of support from their nearest superior and high work demands also affecting behavior after work hours.…”

Relationship of burnout to nurse job satisfaction at Semen Gresik Hospital

“…One of the most serious causes of power health experiencing pressure and stress during this pandemic is a feeling of work exhaustion or usually called burnout. Several recent studies show that up to 90% of social workers experience work burnout (Schilling & Randolph, 2021). "Burnout" is a psychological state that occurs after prolonged exposure to psychosocial risk factors in the life of a health worker.…”