A Study of Burnout and Multidisciplinary Team-Working amongst Professional Music Therapists

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a survey of 151 members of the British Association of Professional Music Therapists, conducted in January 1998, to investigate burnout and job satisfaction in relation to multidisciplinary team membership. Information on personal profile and employment characteristics was also sought, as music therapists are such a widely diverse group. Three aspects of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment) were measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson 1981). Factors influencing reward and dissatisfaction in the job were also assessed in relation to multidisciplinary team membership. Personal and team role clarity and team and professional identification were assessed in therapists who were members of multidisciplinary teams. Therapists who were members of multidisciplinary teams were found to have higher levels of personal accomplishment and similar levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation in comparison to those working independently. These results are discussed in relation to previous surveys of other health and social care professionals. Sources of pressure and reward differed between multidisciplinary team members and non-members. Music therapists who were members of multidisciplinary teams were found to have a moderate level of personal role clarity within their team and identified with their profession more than with their multidisciplinary team.