Abstract
Burnout and health problems among domestic violence service workers: Communicating social support with coworkers as a coping practice
Daniel Park, M.A. and Jennifer Bute, Ph.D.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
APHA 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2016)
Domestic violence is a critical public health issue given its impacts on physical and mental wellness among survivors across the country. Regarding this, although domestic violence services including emergency shelter have served as a lifeline for survivors, current service workers such as shelter staff and advocates are increasingly challenged in assisting survivors because service demand has increased while the amount of workers have decreased. Considering the Job Demands-Resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007), an increasing service demand might lead remaining service workers to experience burnout and health problems, and coworker social support could serve as a significant coping resource. To identify domestic violence service workers' communal experience of supportive communication in coping with burnout and health problems, we conducted a focus-group interview with five workers at one Midwestern domestic violence service. Participants described assisting difficult survivors, such as those who do not address their mental illness, and managing vicarious trauma from survivors in a professional manner (e.g., using a game face) as reasons for burnout. To cope with burnout and health problems, participants communicated informational/appraisal support (e.g., discussing better survivor assistance) and tangible support (e.g., covering the absence of coworkers taking timeout, assisting with physical activity at work). In addressing how to retain domestic violence service workers, especially new workers who are less experienced in assisting survivors and might be vulnerable to burnout, our findings suggest the need to developing formal mentoring programs where new workers can freely express their concerns about work and receive timely support from their mentors.
Occupational health and safety Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines Public health or related research Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health