NCJ Number
125474
Journal
Response to the Victimization of Women and Children Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1990) Pages: 9-12
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between working conditions and staff burnout for 47 workers in 18 shelters for battered women.
Abstract
Staff burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which evaluates feelings of inadequate personal achievement, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. Working conditions were measured primarily by the Work Environment Scales (Insel and Moos, 1974). Working conditions encompassed working hours, peer support, participation in decisions, and autonomy. An assessment of organizational philosophy focused on feminist goals and ideology and professional goals and ideology. Emotional exhaustion was associated with length of employment (the longer the employment, the greater the degree of exhaustion). Depersonalization tended to occur with declining coworker closeness and a lessening of autonomy in decisionmaking. Participation in decisionmaking and working longer hours contributed to a sense of personal achievement. There were no statistically significant relationships between the ideological orientation of the staff members and burnout. The study offers suggestions for improving working conditions to prevent staff burnout. 15 references.