Exploring the working lives of professionals in the field of childhood abuse: an examination of stress, burnout, psychological distress and coping
Authors
Rock, Nicole
Issue Date
2016
Degree
MSc in Applied Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the variables stress, burnout, psychological distress and coping strategies in professionals in the field of childhood abuse. The professionals used in this study were social workers and therapists. The phrase therapist was used interchangeably with other phrases such as psychologist. This study was a mixed method design using both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. 54 (N=54) participants (F=33, M=21) were recruited to fill out an electronic questionnaire, and three interviews with professionals also occurred. Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to look at differences between the two groups on stress, burnout, psychological distress and coping strategies but results were not found to be significant. A multiple regression was used to test the correlation between emotional coping, active coping, stress and burnout. This result was found to be significant. Thematic analysis was used to discover themes among the transcripts of the interviews such as supervision and support. Author keywords: Social workers, therapists, stress, burnout, psychological distress, coping, support and training