by Adam Bogacki
In the study reported here, 65 Sydney Community Youth Support Scheme (CYSS) project officers (76% of the population)... more
In the study reported here, 65 Sydney Community Youth Support Scheme (CYSS) project officers (76% of the population) were interviewed and completed questionnaires which assessed psychiatric symptoms (GHQ-60), Tedium (a measure of burnout), employment duration, social support, coping, personality factors (Eysenck Personality Inventory, Form A), and sociodemographics. Eleven of these subjects were re-interviewed after (approx.) 6 months.
Results were that 33.8% of respondents had GHQ above threshold at the time of interview, 60% having been employed at CYSS for less than 1.33 years. Content analysis of GHQ, Tedium, and Neuroticism (EPI) scales showed significant item content overlap. N was therefore excluded from further analysis. It was shown that reduced models of Adequacy of Social Integration, part-time trade or technical college education, and experience in other youth unemployment schemes had most predictive power on Log10(GHQ+1); of Age and previous experience in residential child care work on Tedium; and of Age, non-work emotion focused coping, and Adequacy of Attachment on Log10(DAP+1).
It was concluded that burnout may be conceptualised as occupational stress and related to psychiatric dysfunction, but that ‘Tedium’ is not an adequate measure of the construct. Evaluation of support function adequacy appears to be a significant factor influencing distress and staff retention. Lack of significant coping effects on distress appears to reflect conceptual confusion in this area. A model integrating personal and social resources seems promising but needs testing.
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