NCJ Number
166776
Date Published
1997
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Professionals involved in sex offender treatment were surveyed to develop a profile of personal characteristics, employment conditions, and burnout symptoms.
Abstract
Participants were a convenience sample obtained at the 13th annual national treatment and research conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Responses came from 130 female and 146 male treatment professionals from the 636 surveyed. Eighty-nine percent said that 91-100 percent of their workload consisted of male abusers. Fifty-six percent acknowledged that they had been sexually, physically, psychologically, or otherwise victimized by another person at some time in their lives. Forty-five percent reported that they felt adequately trained to do their work, and 53 percent were explicitly clear about their professional expectations. Fifty-five percent regarded their work as appropriately challenging. Most had positive work attitudes. Twenty-nine percent reported an overall increase in emotional, physical, and psychological symptoms associated in the past year. Findings indicated that individuals working with sex offenders are subject to burnout and that research and effective burnout prevention and intervention strategies are needed. Table, figures, appended instrument, and 33 references