Workplace Violence In Social Care Settings: Traumatic Stress And Burnout In Staff.

Keywords

Social Care Work
Workplace Violence
Traumatic Stress
Burnout

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between frequency of exposure to physical violence/aggression and traumatic stress and burnout in social care workers (SCWs). One hundred SCWs were surveyed using non-experimental, cross-sectional, quantitative design with three questionnaires: Demographic questionnaire, revised Impact of Events Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Responses were analysed using SPSS quantitative software and utilised descriptive statistics, non-parametric correlational and comparative statistical tests. Results indicated statistically significant positive relationships between the frequency of exposure to physical aggression/violence and traumatic stress and burnout measures. Results also indicated significant positive correlations between traumatic stress and burnout. Furthermore, exposure to workplace violence/aggression, traumatic stress, and burnout also positively correlated with SCWs desire to leave the profession in the next five years. Finally, results indicated the presence of a significant protective role of self-care in moderating the perceived effects of workplace violence/aggression on traumatic stress and burnout in SCWs.

https://doi.org/10.22375/dbr.v3i0.39

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