Abstract
Background Studies have shown that staff who support adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are exposed to challenging behaviour in their work including client aggression. Exposure to aggressive behaviour has been associated with staff stress and burnout. Study samples have been small however, and there has been very little data exploring this issue among North American staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey which included demographics, measures of frequency and severity (including perceived severity and a standardised severity score) of exposure to client aggression and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was completed by 926 community staff who support adults with ID in Ontario, Canada. Relationships between demographic variables and exposure to aggression were examined with descriptive statistics. Pearson correlations were used to analyse exposure variables and MBI-HSS scores. Results Nearly all staff reported being exposed to client aggression in the prior 6 months. Mean MBI-HSS scores were comparable to previously published data in similar populations with the exception of a higher score in the personal accomplishment domain. All measures of exposure to aggression were significantly positively correlated with MBI-HSS scores in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation dimensions of burnout. Conclusions The prevalence of burnout in this North American sample is comparable to what has been reported in similar populations in other locations, although these staff may have a higher sense of accomplishment with regard to their work. Findings from this large sample support the evidence that exposure to client aggression affects staff emotional well-being but is by no means the only important factor. Further study is needed to explore the differences and similarities reported here as well as other contributing factors which will guide the implementation of effective strategies to improve staff well-being.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 910-915 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Intellectual Disability Research |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Aggression
- Burnout
- Challenging behaviour
- Intellectual disability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Rehabilitation
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Exposure to client aggression and burnout among community staff who support adults with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, Canada. / Hensel, J. M.; Lunsky, Y.; Dewa, Carolyn S.
In: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Vol. 56, No. 9, 09.2012, p. 910-915.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposure to client aggression and burnout among community staff who support adults with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, Canada
AU - Hensel, J. M.
AU - Lunsky, Y.
AU - Dewa, Carolyn S
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Background Studies have shown that staff who support adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are exposed to challenging behaviour in their work including client aggression. Exposure to aggressive behaviour has been associated with staff stress and burnout. Study samples have been small however, and there has been very little data exploring this issue among North American staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey which included demographics, measures of frequency and severity (including perceived severity and a standardised severity score) of exposure to client aggression and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was completed by 926 community staff who support adults with ID in Ontario, Canada. Relationships between demographic variables and exposure to aggression were examined with descriptive statistics. Pearson correlations were used to analyse exposure variables and MBI-HSS scores. Results Nearly all staff reported being exposed to client aggression in the prior 6 months. Mean MBI-HSS scores were comparable to previously published data in similar populations with the exception of a higher score in the personal accomplishment domain. All measures of exposure to aggression were significantly positively correlated with MBI-HSS scores in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation dimensions of burnout. Conclusions The prevalence of burnout in this North American sample is comparable to what has been reported in similar populations in other locations, although these staff may have a higher sense of accomplishment with regard to their work. Findings from this large sample support the evidence that exposure to client aggression affects staff emotional well-being but is by no means the only important factor. Further study is needed to explore the differences and similarities reported here as well as other contributing factors which will guide the implementation of effective strategies to improve staff well-being.
AB - Background Studies have shown that staff who support adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are exposed to challenging behaviour in their work including client aggression. Exposure to aggressive behaviour has been associated with staff stress and burnout. Study samples have been small however, and there has been very little data exploring this issue among North American staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey which included demographics, measures of frequency and severity (including perceived severity and a standardised severity score) of exposure to client aggression and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was completed by 926 community staff who support adults with ID in Ontario, Canada. Relationships between demographic variables and exposure to aggression were examined with descriptive statistics. Pearson correlations were used to analyse exposure variables and MBI-HSS scores. Results Nearly all staff reported being exposed to client aggression in the prior 6 months. Mean MBI-HSS scores were comparable to previously published data in similar populations with the exception of a higher score in the personal accomplishment domain. All measures of exposure to aggression were significantly positively correlated with MBI-HSS scores in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation dimensions of burnout. Conclusions The prevalence of burnout in this North American sample is comparable to what has been reported in similar populations in other locations, although these staff may have a higher sense of accomplishment with regard to their work. Findings from this large sample support the evidence that exposure to client aggression affects staff emotional well-being but is by no means the only important factor. Further study is needed to explore the differences and similarities reported here as well as other contributing factors which will guide the implementation of effective strategies to improve staff well-being.
KW - Aggression
KW - Burnout
KW - Challenging behaviour
KW - Intellectual disability
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01493.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01493.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21988339
AN - SCOPUS:84865325485
VL - 56
SP - 910
EP - 915
JO - Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
JF - Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
SN - 0964-2633
IS - 9
ER -