Abstract
Work stress is endemic among direct care workers (DCWs) who serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Social resources, such as work social support, and personal resources, such as an internal locus of control, may help DCWs perceive work overload and other work-related stressors as less threatening and galvanize them to cope more effectively to prevent burnout. However, little is known about what resources are effective for coping with what types of work stress. Thus, we examined how work stress and social and personal resources are associated with burnout for DCWs. We conducted a survey of DCWs ( n = 323) from five community-based organizations that provide residential, vocational, and personal care services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants completed a self-administered survey about their perceptions of work stress, work social support, locus of control, and burnout relative to their daily work routine. We conducted multiple regression analysis to test both the main and interaction effects of work stress and resources with respect to burnout. Work stress, specifically work overload, limited participation decision-making, and client disability care, was positively associated with burnout ( p < .001). The association between work social support and burnout depended on the levels of work overload ( p < .05), and the association between locus of control and burnout depended on the levels of work overload ( p < .05) and participation in decision-making ( p < .05). Whether work social support and locus of control make a difference depends on the kinds and the levels of work stressors. The findings underscore the importance of strong work-based social support networks and stress management resources for DCWs.
Highlights
Direct care workers (DCWs) have played a crucial role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID) in a variety of settings, such as nursing facilities, group residences, and home care
Stressors resulting from heavy workloads, client behavioral and health problems, and limited job autonomy have been shown to be prevalent in DCW work
As far as we know, this is the first U.S study with DCWs in the ID field which demonstrated that the association between coping resources and burnout depends on the kinds and levels of stress
Summary
Direct care workers (DCWs) have played a crucial role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID) in a variety of settings, such as nursing facilities, group residences, and home care. Stressors resulting from heavy workloads, client behavioral and health problems, and limited job autonomy have been shown to be prevalent in DCW work. Such stressors, if not managed appropriately, can contribute to burnout and diminish the effectiveness of care delivery (Hatton, 1999; Skirrow & Hatton, 2007). The individual experiences stress and, without adequate resources for coping, may face strain, exhaustion, and attitudinal and behavioral changes indicative of burnout (Maslach, 1982)
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