Burnout among employees of state residential facilities serving developmentally disabled persons

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the prevalence of and variables associated with “burnout” among employees at state residential facilities serving the developmentally disabled. Fourteen heterogeneous facilities from 11 states participated. The sample consisted of 256 top level administrators, 244 direct care professionals, and 224 direct care workers. Subjects from the latter two categories were randomly selected. The results indicated that 15% of the sample were experiencing attitudinal, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Personal variables found to relate significantly to burnout were age, sex, and marital status. Four facility variables showed a significant relationship to burnout: turnover, decision levels, number of directors within the past five years, and fringe benefits. Work related variables showed significant correlations with burnout in 42 of 45 incidences, but none of them were substantial. The findings tend to support the idiosyncratic nature of stress at work which decreases the likelihood of finding a few variables which act as “common causes” of burnout. Results also suggest that the most dedicated, competent, and productive staff members are perhaps the most vulnerable to burnout.