Date of Conferral

5-19-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Hedy Dexter

Abstract

Studies have found that burnout among correctional mental health providers is related to unique stressors that impact their physical, psychological, and emotional health, including the perceived and actual threat of violence. Using the transactional theory of stress and coping, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influence of burnout and meaning-focused coping strategies on life satisfaction in correctional mental health providers. Online survey data from 102 master’s-holding correctional mental health professionals were recruited by SurveyMonkey who also administered the survey. Results from a standard multiple regression analysis suggested that meaning-focused coping strategies significantly and positively influenced life satisfaction. These findings can promote positive social change by informing meaning-focused coping training programs offered in-house by correctional facilities beneficial to current and future correctional counselors. Also, by providing support to correctional mental health providers, before reaching burnout, clinicians will more likely adapt to the unique setting, enabling them to maintain employment and continue serving both the inmate population and their communities.

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