Predictors of burnout among social workers in israel

Abstract

Abstract This study examined the effects of personal characteristics and job-related variables predicting burnout among Israeli social workers. A national study of 400 social workers employed at Arab and Jewish human service departments received self-administered surveys. Of them, 218 completed the surveys. Significant findings revealed burnout differences based on gender and ethnicity. Males and Arabs reported higher burnout levels than female and Jewish social workers, respectively. Multiple regression analysis identified four predictors of burnout: Collegial relationships, quality of supervision, comfort, and education. These variables explained 45% of the burnout variance. Collegial relationships emerged as the most important factor, accounting for 36% of the variance. This suggests that the extent to which social workers share similar work attitudes, experience, knowledge, and values with their colleagues plays an important role in how they feel about their work.