Correctional Officers' Lived Experience of Burnout
Date of Conferral
11-9-2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Jana Price-Sharps
Abstract
Leading to poor retention and/or problems with work performance is a pressing issue for U.S. correctional systems. Although correctional officers are commonly the main source of connection for distressed inmates and enforce the rules and regulations that maintain security of the correctional system, their experience of burnout has not been adequately examined in the literature. Guided by burnout theory as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of 12 correctional officers in relation to job-related. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to obtain knowledge of the correctional officers’ experiences. Data from semi structured interviews with the participants were manually transcribed and analyzed to identify themes. The findings identified commonalities in the correctional officers’ experiences with their work environment, administration management, and compensation. Implications for positive social change include the potential development of new strategies to address job burnout while on the job. Recommendations include continuing research on the correctional officer population; researchers should strive to incorporate male participants as their lived experience of burnout may differ from that of their female colleagues.
Recommended Citation
Mack, Tereassa, "Correctional Officers' Lived Experience of Burnout" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15107.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15107
