Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Kelly R. Chermack

Abstract

Abstract Job-related aspects of working in the mental health and human service field, such as job demands, workload, excessively long hours, and leadership roles, are known to cause burnout. Feelings of burnout and job-related stress may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for professionals working with those experiencing domestic violence. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of burnout among human service professionals (HSPs) working with domestic violence victims during COVID-19. Relational cultural and burnout theories provided the conceptual framework for this study. The data collected from the nine participants were obtained through semi structured interviews. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic coding of interview data yielded seven emergent themes: added stress, difficulty reaching victims, the need to pivot and use different strategies, lack of resources, boundaries with clients not established, self-care needs not met, and not enough time. The study may contribute to positive social change by presenting valuable insights regarding HSPs' work and coping experiences during COVID-19. This research may serve as a platform for developing future training programs and addressing self-regulation of practices for HSPs. Leaders in the field may be able to use the study findings to cultivate resources on the effects of burnout and occupational stress from working with DV victims during the pandemic, as well as techniques for addressing burnout and stress.

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