Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T11:38:09.507Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Exploration of the Factors Associated with Burnout Among NSW Secondary School Counsellors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2018

Catherine King Open the ORCID record for Catherine King [Opens in a new window] ,
Mirjana Subotic-Kerry  and
Bridianne O'Dea
Catherine King*
Affiliation:
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mirjana Subotic-Kerry
Affiliation:
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Bridianne O'Dea
Affiliation:
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Catherine King, Black Dog Institute, Hospital Road, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

School counsellors play an important role in supporting student mental health but face several challenges that may increase their vulnerability to burnout. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with burnout among school counsellors in secondary schools in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted to measure demographics, school counsellor background, school context, school counselling practice, openness towards evidence-based practices, and use of online resources. The final sample consisted of the 125 participants who responded they had (n = 65) or had not (n = 60) experienced burnout. Most participants were female (86%), with an average of 9 years’ experience (SD = 7.0). Burnout was associated with lower workload manageability, lower satisfaction with school mental healthcare, greater impact of work stress upon wellbeing, and greater frequency of providing care outside of school hours. No other significant associations were found. This study reinforces that school counsellors are vulnerable to burnout and that measuring job overload may help to identify those at increased risk. School counsellors may also benefit from additional support for students who require care beyond school hours. Greater awareness about the risks of burnout, coupled with efforts to improve resource allocation within the school setting, may improve school counsellors’ sustainability and optimise the mental healthcare available to students.

Keywords

school counsellorburnoutstresssupportadolescentsmental health
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , December 2018 , pp. 131 - 142
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aarons, G.A. (2004). Mental health provider attitudes toward adoption of evidence-based practice: The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS). Mental Health Services Research, 6, 61–74. doi:10.1023/b:mhsr.0000024351.12294.65Google Scholar
Aarons, G.A., McDonald, E.J., Sheehan, A.K., & Walrath-Greene, C.M. (2007). Confirmatory factor analysis of the evidence-based practice attitude scale (EBPAS) in a geographically diverse sample of community mental health providers. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 34, 465. doi:10.1007/s10488-007-0127-xGoogle Scholar
Australian Psychological Society (APS). (2013). Framework for the effective delivery of school psychological services. Melbourne, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Bardhoshi, G., Schweinle, A., & Duncan, K. (2014). Understanding the impact of school factors on school counselor burnout: A mixed-methods study. Professional Counselor, 4, 426–443. doi:10.15241/gb.4.5.426Google Scholar
Butler, S.K., & Constantine, M.G. (2005). Collective self-esteem and burnout in professional School Counselors. Professional School Counseling, 9, 55–62. doi:10.5330/prsc.9.1.17n4415l163720u5Google Scholar
Campbell, M., & Colmar, S. (2014). Current status and future trends of school counseling in Australia. Journal of Asia Pacific Counseling, 4, 181–197. doi: 10.18401/2014.4.2.9Google Scholar
Coll, K.M., & Freeman, B. (1997). Role conflict among elementary school counselors: A national comparison with middle and secondary school counselors. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling, 31, 251–261. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/42869206Google Scholar
DeKruyf, L., Auger, R.W., & Trice-Black, S. (2013). The role of school counselors in meeting students’ mental health needs: Examining issues of professional identity. Professional School Counseling, 16, 271–282. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2013-16.271Google Scholar
Earle, K.-M. (2017). Burnout in NSW school counsellors: Relationships between mindfulness, career-sustaining practices and work setting. Journal of Student Engagement: Education Matters, 7, 71–96. Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/jseem/vol7/iss1/5Google Scholar
Glasheen, K., Campbell, M., & Shochet, I. (2015). School counsellors’ and students’ attitudes to online counselling: A qualitative study. Journal of Relationships Research, 6, e12. doi:10.1017/jrr.2015.8Google Scholar
Gulliver, A., Griffiths, K.M., & Christensen, H. (2010). Perceived barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 10, 1–9. doi:10.1186/1471-244x-10-113Google Scholar
Haddad, A. (1998). Sources of social support among school counsellors in Jordan and its relationship to burnout. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 20, 113–121. doi:10.1023/a:1005324405249Google Scholar
Herlihy, B., Gray, N., & McCollum, V. (2002). Legal and ethical issues in school counselor supervision. Professional School Counseling, 6, 55–60. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barbara_Herlihy2/publication/234714178_Legal_and_Ethical_Issues_in_School_Counselor_Supervision/links/5667197808ae34c89a022844.pdfGoogle Scholar
Huberty, T.J., & Huebner, E.S. (1988). A national survey of burnout among school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools, 25, 54–61. doi:10.1002/1520-6807(198801)25:1<54::AID-PITS2310250109>3.0.CO;2-33.0.CO;2-3>Google Scholar
IBM Corp. (2013). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.Google Scholar
Kimber, M., & Campbell, M. (2014). Exploring ethical dilemmas for principals arising from role conflict with school counsellors. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 42, 207–225. doi:10.1177/1741143213499259Google Scholar
Lambie, G.W. (2007). The contribution of ego development level to burnout in school counselors: Implications for professional school counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 85, 82–88. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00447.xGoogle Scholar
Lawrence, D., Hafekost, J., Johnson, S.E., Saw, S., Buckingham, W.J., Sawyer, M.G., Ainley, J., & Zubrick, S.R. (2016). Key findings from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 876–886. doi:10.1177/0004867415617836Google Scholar
Mara, P. (1991). Who supports the counsellor? Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 1, 1–2. doi:10.1017/S1037291100002326Google Scholar
Maslach, C. (1982). Burnout: The cost of caring. Cambridge, MA: Malor Books.Google Scholar
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S.E. (1981). The measurement of experienced burnout. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2, 99–113. doi: 10.1002/job.4030020205Google Scholar
Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W.B., & Leiter, M.P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397–422. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397Google Scholar
Moyer, M. (2011). Effects of non-guidance activities, supervision, and student-to-counselor ratios on school counselor burnout. Journal of School Counseling, 9, n5. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ933171Google Scholar
NSW Department of Education and Communities. (2011). Paper 1. The School Counselling Workforce in NSW Government Schools. Sydney, Australia: Author. Retrieved 21 July, 2016, from https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/about-us/statistics-and-research/public-reviews-and-enquiries/school-counselling-services-review/paper1-tscwings.pdf.Google Scholar
O'Dea, B., King, C., Subotic-Kerry, M., O'Moore, K., & Christensen, H. (2017). School counselors’ perspectives of a web-based stepped care mental health service for schools: Cross-sectional online survey. JMIR Mental Health, 4, e55. doi:10.2196/mental.8369Google Scholar
Rayle, A. (2006). Do school counselors matter? Mattering as a moderator between job stress and job satisfaction. Professional School Counseling, 9, 206–215. doi:10.5330/prsc.9.3.w23j476w45727537Google Scholar
Rickwood, D., Deane, F.P., Wilson, C.J., & Ciarrochi, J. (2005). Young people's help-seeking for mental health problems. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 4, 218–251. doi:10.5172/jamh.4.3.218Google Scholar
Rodd, A. (2017). Burnout in NSW school counsellors: How do years of experience, career-sustaining behaviours and mindfulness affect burnout levels? Journal of Student Engagement: Education Matters, 7, 49–70. Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/jseem/vol7/iss1/4Google Scholar
Sawyer, M.G., Miller-Lewis, L.R., & Clark, J.J. (2007). The mental health of 13–17 year-olds in Australia: Findings from the National Survey Of Mental Health And Well-Being. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 185–194. doi:10.1007/s10964-006-9122-xGoogle Scholar
Schaufeli, W.B., & Greenglass, E.R. (2001). Introduction to special issue on burnout and health. Psychology & Health, 16, 501–510. doi:10.1080/08870440108405523Google Scholar
Thielking, M., & Jimerson, S.R. (2006). Perspectives regarding the role of school psychologists: Perceptions of teachers, principals, and school psychologists in Victoria, Australia. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 16, 211–223. doi:10.1375/ajgc.16.2.211Google Scholar
Wilkerson, K., & Bellini, J. (2006). Intrapersonal and organizational factors associated with burnout among school counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 84, 440. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2006.tb00428.xGoogle Scholar
WorldAPP Key Survey. (2017). Key Survey. Braintree, MA: WorldAPP.Google Scholar
Young, M.E., & Lambie, G.W. (2007). Wellness in school and mental health systems: Organizational influences. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 46, 98–113. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1939.2007.tb00028.xGoogle Scholar