FACTORS THAT AFFECT SOCIAL WORKERS’ JOB SATISFACTION, STRESS AND BURNOUT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/50-2-393Keywords:
social worker, stress, burnoutAbstract
Social work was classified as a scare skill and the retention of social workers is an important aspect that needs urgent attention. The research goal of this study was to determine what degree of work engagement and job satisfaction South African social workers experience in their current positions and how this influences job turnover, burnout and the intention to leave the profession. The purpose was to determine the needs social workers experience that will affect turnover in the profession. The needs/problems social workers experienced were stress, burnout, lower job satisfaction and work engagement.
Downloads
References
ADLEM, A.G. 2007. Retensiestrategieë as teenvoeter vir vroëe beroepsverlating onder maatskaplike werkers. Pretoria: University of South Africa. (MA thesis)
ANON. 2005. Social work in Wales: a profession to value. [Online] Available: http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/media/pdf/m/e/Social_Work_in_Wales_-_A_Profession_ to_Value.pdf [Accessed: 05/03/2011].
BABBIE, E. 2010. The practice of social research. London: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
BAKKER, A.B. & LEITER, M.P. 2010. Where to go from here: integration and future research on work engagement. In: BAKKER, A.B. & LEITER, M.P. (eds) Work engagement: a handbook of essential theory and research. New York: Psychology Press, 181-196.
BAKKER, A.B., DEMEROUTI, E., HAKANEN, J.J. & XANTHOPOULOU, D. 2007. Job resources boost work engagement, particularly when job demands are high. Journal of Educational Psychology, 2:274-284.
CABRITA, J. & PERISTA, H. 2007. Measuring job satisfaction in surveys. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
CASTILLO, J.J. 2009. Steps of the scientific method. [Online] Available: http://www.experiment-resources.com/ snowball-sampling.html [Accessed: 04/02/2012].
CHAN, K.K.B. 2000. Creative work environment correlates to job satisfaction and creative self-efficacy in two medical professions. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong.
CHANG, K. & WEI, S. 2008. Well-being, work engagement and workplace deviant behavior: self-monitoring as a moderator. [Online] Available: http://academic-papers.org/ocs2/session/Papers/A4/458-1671-1-DR.doc [Accessed: 18/06/2011].
CLEGG, A. 2001. Occupational stress in nursing: a review of literature. Journal of Nursing Management, 9:101-106.
COLE, D., PANCHANADESWARAN, S. & DAINING, C. 2004. Predictors of job satisfaction of licensed social workers: perceived efficacy as a mediator of the relationship between workload and job satisfaction. Journal of Social Service Research, 31(1):1-12.
COLLINS, S. 2008. Statutory social workers: stress, job satisfaction, coping, social support and individual differences. British Journal of Social Work, 38:173-193.
CRESWELL, J.W. & PLANO CLARK, V.L. 2007. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. London: Sage Publications.
DELPORT, C.S.L. & ROESTENBURG, W.J.H. 2011. Quantitative data-collection methods: questionnaires, checklists, structured observation and structured interview schedules. In: De VOS, A., STRYDOM, H.,
FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. (eds) Research at grass roots: for the social sciences and human service professions (4th ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 171-206.
DE VOS, A.S. & STRYDOM, H. 2011. Intervention research. In: DE VOS, A., STRYDOM, H., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. (eds) Research at grass roots: for the social sciences and human service professions (4th ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 473-490.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, S.A. 2009. Recruitment and retention strategy for social workers. Pretoria: Department of social development.
DEWE, J. 1987. Identifying strategies nurses use to cope with work stress. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 12:489-497.
DOLLARD, M.F., WINEFIELD, A.H. & WINEFIELD, H.R. 2003. Occupational stress in the service professions. New York: Taylor and Francis.
DURAND, L. 2008. Psychological empowerment, job satisfaction, and work engagement of employees in a surface coatings manufacturer. Vanderbijlpark: North-West University. Vaal Triangle Campus. (MA thesis)
EARLE, N. 2008. Social work as a scarce and critical profession. [Online] Available: https://www.labour.gov.za/downloads/documents/research-documents/Social %20work_ Dol_Report.pdf [Accessed: 19/10/2012 October 2012].
EBORALL, C. & GARMESON, K. 2001. Desk research on recruitment and retention in social care and social work. London: Business and Industrial Market Research.
FARMER, D. 2011. Increasing job satisfaction among social workers. [Online] Available: http://www.academia.edu/1075073/Increasing_Job_Satisfaction_among_ Social_Workers [Accessed: 27/10/2012].
FITTS, V.L. 2006. Ohio social workers: an examination of work-related needs, job satisfaction and membership in the National Association of Social Workers. What factors are associated with anticipated tenure in the profession? Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University. (PhD thesis)
FOUCHÉ, C.B. & BARTLEY, A. 2011. Quantitative data analysis and interpretation. In: DE VOS, A., STRYDOM, H., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. (eds) Research at grass roots: for the social sciences and human service professions (4th ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 473-490.
FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DE VOS, A. 2011. Quantitative research designs. In: DE VOS, A.S., STRYDOM H., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. (eds) Research at grass roots: for the social sciences and human service professions (4rd ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 142-143.
FOURIE, L.A. 2004. Burnout and engagement of non-professional counsellors in South Africa. Potchefstroom: North-West University. Potchefstroom Campus. (PhD thesis)
GRASSO, A.J. 1994. Management style, job satisfaction and service effectiveness. Administration in Social Work, 18(4):80-105.
GRAY-STANLEY, J.A. 2011. Work stress, burnout, and social and personal resources among direct care workers. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(3):1065-1074. (Abstract).
HAKANEN, J. & ROODT, G. 2010. Using the job demands-resources model to predict engagement: Analysing a conceptual model. In:
BAKKER, A. & LEITER, M.P. (eds) Work engagement: a handbook of essential theory and research. New York: Psychology Press, 85-99.
HALBESLEBEN, J.R. 2010. A meta-analysis of work engagement: relationships with burnout, demands, resources, and consequences. In: BAKKER, A. & LEITER, M.P. (eds) Work engagement: a handbook of essential theory and research. East Sussex: Psychology Press, 102-117.
HERZBERG, F., MAUSNER, B. & SYNDERMAN, B.B. 1959. The motivation to work. New York: Wiley.
JANSE VAN RENSBURG, J. 2009. Occupational stressors of newly qualified social workers in non-governmental organisations: experiences and coping strategies. Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch. (MA thesis)
KORUNKA, C., TEMENT, S., ZDREHUS, C. & BORZA, A. 2010. Burnout: definition, recognition and prevention approaches. BOIT: Burnout Intervention Training for Managers and Team Leaders.
LASCHINGER, H.K. & FINEGAN, J. 2005. Empowering nurses for work engagement and health in hospital settings. Journal of Nursing Administration, 35(10):439-449.
LEITER, M.P. & MASLACH, C. 2005. Banishing burnout: six strategies for improving your relationship with work. San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass.
LEITER, M.P. & MASLACH, C. 2009. Nurse turnover: the mediating role of burnout. Journal of Nursing Management, 17:331-339.
LIANG, T.W. 2007. Creativity needed in non-profits? Social Service Journal, 20:1-16.
MASLACH, C., SCHAUFELI, W.B. & LEITER, M.P. 2001. Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52:397-422.
MOSS, S. 2009. Engagement at work. [Online] Available: http://www.psych-it.com.au/Psychlopedia/article. asp?id=345 [Accessed: 18/04/2011].
MOUTON, J. 2001. How to succeed in your master’s and doctoral studies: a South African guide and research book. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS. 2009. Social work reinvestment: a national agenda for the profession of social work. [Online] Available: http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/resources/Transition Book.pdf [Accessed: 18/03/2011].
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS. 2014. Code of Ethics. [Online] Available: http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/docs/resources/nasw_code_of_ethics.pdf [Accessed: 01/02/2014].
PELTIER, J. & DAHL, A. 2009. The relationship between employee satisfaction and hospital patient experiences. [Online] Available: http://www. docstoc.com/ docs/58837959/Hospital-Study--Relationship-Btwn-Emp-Satisfaction-and-Pt-Experiences [Accessed:30/03/2011].
PRINS, J., HOEKSTRA-WEEBERS, J., GAZENDAM-DONOFRIO, S.D.G., BAKKER, A.H.M., JACOBS, B. & VAN DER HEIJDEN, M. 2010. Burnout and engagement among resident doctors in the Netherlands: a national study. Medical Education, 44:236-247.
RICHER, S.F., BLANCHARD, C.M. & VALLERAND, R.J. 2002. A motivational model of work turnover. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(10):2089-2113.
ROTHMAN, J. & THOMAS, E.J. 1994. Intervention research: design and development for human services. New York: Haworth Press.
ROTHMAN, S. & ROTHMAN, S.J. (Jr). 2010. Factors associated with employee engagement in South Africa. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 36(2):31-43.
RUYLE, K. 2007. Satisfied employees may not be most productive. [Online] Available: http://talentmgt.com/ articles/view/satisfied_employees_may_not_be_most_ productive_/print:1 [Accessed: 12/04/2012].
SCHAUFELI, W.B., SALANOVA, M.V., GONZALES-ROMK, D. & BAKKER, A.B. 2002. The measurement of engagement and burnout: a confirmative analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(71):65-174.
SCHURINK, W., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DE VOS, A.S. 2011. Qualitative data analysis and interpretation. In: DE VOS, A.S., STRYDOM, H., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. (eds) Research at grass roots: for the social sciences and human service professions (4th ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 397-423.
SELYE, H. 1956. Stress for life. New York: McGraw-Hill.
SPECTOR, P.E. 1997. Job satisfaction: application, assessment, causes, and consequences. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.
STROLIN, J., McCARTHEY, M. & CARINGI, J. 2007. Causes and effects of child welfare workforce turnover: current state of knowledge and future directions. [Online] Available: http://ocfs.ny.gov/ohrd/swec/ pubs/Causes%20and%20Effects %20of%20Child%20Welfare%20Workforce%20Turnover.pdf [Accessed:10/12/2011].
SYPTAK, J., MARSLAND, D.W. & ULMER, D. 1999. Job satisfaction: putting theory into practice. Family Practice Management, 6(9):26-30.
VAN DEN BROECK, A., VANSTEENKISTE, M., DE WITTE, H. & LENS, W. 2008. Explaining the relationships between job characteristics, burnout, and engagement: the role of basic psychological need satisfaction. Work and Stress, 22(3):277-294.
VAN WYK, C. 2011. Beroepstres en streshantering by maatskaplike werkers wat betrokke is by intervensie met seksueel misbruikte kinders. Stellenbosch: Universiteit van Stellenbosch. (PhD thesis)
VAN ZYL-EDELING, H. & PRETORIUS, G. 2005. Course in information: ethics in action. In: DUNBAR-KRIGE, H. & FRITZ, E. (eds) The supervision of councillors in South Africa: travels in new territory. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 164-177.
VERMEULEN, A. 2008. Understanding the work experiences, coping strategies and organizational retention of social workers in Gauteng in-patient substance abuse treatment clinics. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand. (MA thesis)
VERWEY, T. 1996. Fragile dreams: addictions in perspective. Pretoria: Alkogen Publishing.
WEAVER, D., CHANG, J. & GIL DE GIBAJA, M. 2006. The retention of public child welfare workers. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California, California Social Work Education Center.
WHITAKER, T., WEISMILLER, T. & CLARK, E. 2006. Assuring the sufficiency of a frontline workforce: a national study of licensed social workers: executive summary. Washington, D.C.: National Association of Social Workers.
XANTHOPOULOU, D., BAKKER, A.B., DEMEROUTI, E. & SCHAUFELI, W.B. 2012. A diary study on the happy worker: how job resources relate to positive emotions and personal resources. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 21(4):489-517.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This journal is an open access journal, and the authors and journal should be properly acknowledged when works are cited.
Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, and with conferences.
The following license applies:
Attribution CC BY-4.0
This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.
Articles as a whole may not be re-published with another journal.
