An exploratory descriptive study of burnout among African American mental health professionals

• Main Author: Talley, Jessica Murphy
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 1993
• Subjects: Social Work
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/1813; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3429&context=dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of occupational burnout among African American mental health professionals. An exploratory descriptive study was conducted in this research. A questionnaire was administered to 35 individuals who were employed in a mental health setting. A non-probability convenience sample was utilized in collecting data for this study. The findings of this research revealed that African Americans do experience moderate tedium, the mean score for the 35 participants was 3. 08%. This suggests that the majority of the respondents reported feeling optimistic and happy about their roles as mental health professionals. Demographic findings with respect to age, sex, education, and income, revealed the following: 11.4% were in the 30-34 age range: 74.3% were females: 31.4% had Masters degrees in Social Work; 14.3% had incomes ranging from $30,000 to $34,999, and 25.7% were divorced. This study supports other studies reqardinq the universal reactions to stress and burnout. African Americans in this study do not differ with respect to how they handle burnout and its components.