Workplace Violence in Social Care Settings: Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Staff

• Main Authors: Daniel Dowling, Prakashini Banka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dublin Business School 2020-03-01
• Series: DBS Business Review
• Subjects: workplace violence; traumatic stress; burnout; social care workers
• Online Access: https://dbsbusinessreview.ie/index.php/journal/article/view/62

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 correlational study 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, and non-parametric correlational 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 a significant relationship between frequency of self-care and levels of traumatic stress and burnout subscales in SCWs.)