Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Though companies and researchers invest great resources into employee work satisfaction, there is little research regarding the same issues for volunteers.Previous research has established that individuals working in social services, including social workers, nurses, and teachers, are prone to experiencing burnout.This is attributed to the high-stress nature of their work.What has not been examined is the burnout experienced by volunteers.The current study seeks to fill that gap by studying the long-term effects of volunteerism on 44 individuals across the continental United States as well as to identify proactive activities that could reduce burnout.These individuals were measured on the following attributes: motivation for volunteering, burnout, stress, and coping methods twice during a 6 month time period.These measures were used to correlate burnout and satisfaction with their volunteer experiences.The results of this study indicate that greater use of negative coping methods, higher level of stress, decreased levels of empathy, and poorer general mental health were significant predictors of increased burnout at the end of the study.Lower levels of burnout, higher empathy, and identified motivation for volunteering were significantly correlated with the individuals" satisfaction with their volunteer program at the end of the study.Implications for volunteer agencies are addressed.For my family, without whose unwavering support and words of encouragement, none of this would be possible.We are what we believe we are.C. S. Lewis v Acknowledgements This dissertation would not have been possible without the support of my parents, their consistent words of encouragement, untiring belief in my abilities, and supply of care packages.I cannot overstate the importance of their dedication to my success and the effect it has had on my educational career.I would also like to thank my dissertation committee for their commitment and wise guidance from the conception of this project to completion.Thank you to my chair, Dr.Joseph Hovey for the freedom to pursue my interests and willingness to support my efforts.Finally, I thank my classmates,
Author: Kate L. Jansen
Institution: University of Toledo
Language: English
Topic: Stress and Burnout Research
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2226917501