Predictors and consequences of staff burnout: A longitudinal study of assertive community treatment case managers
Abstract
Prior research has shown assertive community treatment (ACT) case managers report less staff burnout than traditional case managers (Boyer, 1991). To help identify potential protective features of the ACT model, the current study examined ACT-relevant predictors of burnout (e.g., shared caseloads, daily team meetings) as well as other predictors which have not received much attention in the literature (geographic location, race, and personality traits). Potential consequences of burnout to both staff (turnover and absenteeism) and clients (satisfaction with services and hospital usage) also were examined. Seventy-two ACT case managers participated in this study, with longitudinal data available for 38 (53%) of the sample. As hypothesized, several job/role characteristics relevant to ACT were predictive of burnout (i.e., caseload size, frequency of client contact, and proportion of clients with substance abuse problems were positively associated with burnout). Tentatively, fidelity to the ACT model predicted lower levels of team burnout. However, contrary to expectations, frequent team meetings were associated with increased burnout. Regarding other predictors of burnout, rural case managers reported significantly more burnout than urban case managers. In addition, Caucasian case managers and case managers who were racially incongruent with the majority of their caseload reported higher levels of burnout. Personality traits (optimism and sense of coherence) were moderate predictors of lower levels of burnout. However, staff burnout had little effect on hypothesized consequences. Burnout is a rich construct, and several areas for future research were identified. A model for future examination of ACT and burnout and a model for the conceptualization of staff burnout within a coping framework were provided.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Bond, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy|Occupational psychology
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