California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of aduateGr Studies 6-2016 PREDICTING BURNOUT AMONG PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS Sarah E. Hernandez California State University, San Bernardino Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd Part of the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Hernandez, Sarah E., "PREDICTING BURNOUT AMONG PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS" (2016). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 304. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/304 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of aduateGr Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PREDICTING BURNOUT AMONG PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Social Work by Sarah Elizabeth Hernandez June 2016 PREDICTING BURNOUT AMONG PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Sarah Elizabeth Hernandez June 2016 Approved by: Dr. Tom Davis, Faculty Supervisor, Social Work Dr. Janet Chang, Research Coordinator © 2016 Sarah Elizabeth Hernandez ABSTRACT This thesis attempted to examine stressors associated with the psychiatric technician profession and levels of burnout amongst them. This was accomplished with the use of a survey that included demographic data, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), an adaptation of the Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) and a self-care assessment tool. A total of three research questions were examined statistically including levels of burnout on subcategories (personal accomplishment, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization), most common stressors identified by psychiatric technicians and percentage of participants who utilized therapy to cope with work related stress. The survey was made available via survey monkey and posted on the website for the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians website and via links posted on Union Chapter social media pages. A total of 123 Psychiatric Technicians participated in the study. Results indicated high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment among psychiatric technicians. Results indicate that extended work hours and staffing minimums were significant issues affecting union members. Also significant among participants, was high level of difficulty attending work due to work related stress during the last three months. For future research, it is recommended that similar studies of psychiatric technicians be conducted to provide further insight into burnout, how it happens and how to avoid it. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT) for your support throughout this endeavor. I hope that this will be the beginning of many studies to help understand the challenges amongst psychiatric technicians, a group of professionals who put their lives on the line every day to care for others in a largely selfless way. I too, was a psychiatric technician for over 9 years and felt the impact of burnout and emotional exhaustion in my own life. This burnout led me to my current educational endeavors and the current study. Thank you for believing in me and my goal of illuminating the significant level of burnout among psychiatric technicians and the most significant stressors identified by them. The support of CAPT helps illustrate their dedication to their members. I would also like to thank Dr. Davis, my advisor for his dedication to this study. He has been tirelessly supportive during this undertaking. Without his support and encouragement throughout this project I would have struggled tremendously. Thank you for being a major source of motivation throughout this project. iv DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis and my MSW degree to my mom Susan Collett, who raised me as a single mother, and taught me the importance of education. My mom always pushed me to go above and beyond others expectations. She taught me the importance of hard work and dedication. She sacrificed so much, making sure that I always had the best. I dedicate this body of work to my loving family, my wife Sylvia, my son Andrew and my niece Adahli Lopez. Thank you for believing in me and allowing me to follow my dreams of not only bettering myself, but my ability to better support our family. Thank you for the countless hours of time you sacrificed so that I could complete my homework, projects, readings and this thesis. I could not have done this without your support and love. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 Problem Statement ............................................................................ 1 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................... 5 Significance of the Project for Social Work ........................................ 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 9 Introduction ........................................................................................ 9 Burnout .............................................................................................. 9 Stressors ........................................................................................... 10 Anxiety and Burnout .......................................................................... 11 Healthcare Professionals and Burnout .............................................. 11 Exposure to Violence and Burnout .................................................... 14 Overtime and Burnout ........................................................................ 14 Personal Expectations and Burnout................................................... 15 Theories Guiding Conceptualization .................................................. 16 Self-Care ........................................................................................... 19 Summary ........................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS 21 Introduction ........................................................................................ 21 Research Design ............................................................................... 21 v Sampling ............................................................................................ 22 Data Collection Instruments ............................................................... 23 Measurement Tools ........................................................................... 25 Procedures ........................................................................................ 27 Protection of Human Subjects ........................................................... 28 Data Analysis ..................................................................................... 28 Summary ........................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 30 Introduction ........................................................................................ 30 Presentation and Findings ................................................................. 30 Demographics ................................................................................... 32 This figure displays participants in terms of gender. .......................... 32 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION 39 Introduction ........................................................................................ 39 Discussion ......................................................................................... 39 Gender .................................................................................... 39 Work Setting ........................................................................... 40 Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) ............................................................................... 40 Personal Accomplishment....................................................... 41 Emotional Exhaustion ............................................................. 42 Depersonalization ................................................................... 42 Work Attendance .................................................................... 43 Unpredictable Staffing ............................................................. 44 vi Staffing Coverage ................................................................... 45 Counseling .............................................................................. 47 Recommendations for Social Work Practice, Policy and Research ........................................................................................... 48 Limitations of the Study ..................................................................... 49 Summary ..........................................................................................