Date of Award

6-2017

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Lizano, Erica

Abstract

Burnout is a topic that is drawing an increasing amount of attention in the social work field. The compassion and emotional energy that is used daily by these service providers can cause them to experience emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The effects of burnout are detrimental on several levels. Staff will experience decreased interest and efficiency in their work and may even leave their place of employment. Clients will not receive the help that they require and agencies will suffer from staff turnover and lowered productivity. Utilizing a survey including a burnout inventory and spirituality inventory, data was gathered regarding burnout and the spiritual attitudes and practices of 133 service providers. Results show that there is a negative significant relationship between depersonalization and spirituality. There was a positive significant relationship between personal accomplishment and spirituality. The correlation showed that personal accomplishment was negatively related to emotional exhaustion as well as depersonalization. These results are consistent with the literature in the way that it demonstrates that the use of spiritual beliefs and practices can reduce the effects of burnout on social workers.

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