Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales
Open accessAbstract
Background: Previous research suggests that social workers experience high levels of stress and burnout but most remain committed to their work. Aims: To examine the prevalence of stress and burnout, and job satisfaction among mental health social workers (MHSWs) and the factors responsible for this. Method: A postal survey incorporating the General Health Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Karasek Job Content Questionnaire and a job satisfaction measure was sent to 610 MHSWs in England and Wales. Results: Eligible respondents ( n =237) reported high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion and low levels of job satisfaction; 111 (47%) showed significant symptomatology and distress, which is twice the level reported by similar surveys of psychiatrists. Feeling undervalued at work, excessive job demands, limited latitude in decision-making, and unhappiness about the place of MHSWs in modern services contributed to the poor job satisfaction and most aspects of burnout. Those who had approved social worker status had greater dissatisfaction. Conclusions: Stress may exacerbate recruitment and retention problems. Employers must recognise the demands placed upon MHSWs and value their contribution to mental health services.
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Mental health social workers in England and Wales experience higher rates of emotional exhaustion than consultant psychiatrists, and rates three times higher than other mental health practitioners.
“Evans et al. (2006) (n = 237) found that mental health social workers in England and Wales experience higher rates of emotional exhaustion than consultant psychiatrists, and rates of emotional exhaustion that are three times higher other mental health practitioners.”
From Testing Mindfulness Mechanisms of Action on the Stress and Burnout of Social Workers (2024) · cites this paper as Evans et al., 2006
The Health and well-being section and Table 1 report higher mean emotional-exhaustion scores for mental health social workers than for consultant psychiatrists (26.3 versus 24.2) and mental health category norms (26.3 versus 16.9). They do not support a threefold difference from other mental health practitioners. The Discussion's nearly threefold comparison concerns psychological distress relative to the general population, not emotional exhaustion. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSocial work professionals experience high levels of stress and burnout.
“Social work professionals experience high levels of stress and burnout.”
From Examining Potential Psychological Protective and Risk Factors for Stress and Burnout in Social Workers. (2025) · cites this paper as Evans et al., 2006
Social workers experience concerningly high rates of stress and burnout.
“Although social work is a very rewarding profession, from which practitioners often attain very high rates of personal accomplishment (McFadden, 2015), it is also a very challenging profession which can lead to social workers experiencing concerningly high rates of stress and burnout (Evans et al., 2006; Ravalier et al., 2021).”
From Testing Mindfulness Mechanisms of Action on the Stress and Burnout of Social Workers (2024) · cites this paper as Evans et al., 2006
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“…it has been suggested that it is the organizational settings and their policies that generate the feelings of stress and anxiety (Acker, 2004; Huxley et al. 2005; Smith, 2005; Morris, 2005; Evans et al., 2005; Collins, 2008; Boyas & Wind, 2010; Manttari-van der Kuip, 2014; Wilberforce et…”
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“Several studies have looked at issues relating to stress (e.g. Coyle, Edwards, Hannigan, Fothergill, & Burnard, 2005), resilience, job satisfaction, burn out (e.g. Evans et al., 2006) and coping (e.g. Collins, 2008) in professional social workers.”
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Frieiro Padín, P., Verde-Diego, C., Arias, T. F., & González-Rodríguez, R. (2021) · European Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1080/13691457.2020.1870215 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
“It was noted that 47% of social workers revealed a significant level of distress, which was higher than that of the average mental health worker, although social workers also experienced more personal accomplishment than other mental health colleagues (Evans et al., 2006).”
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Evans, S., Huxley, P. J., Webber, M., Katona, C., Gately, C., Mears, A., Medina, J., Pajak, S., & Kendall, T. (2005) · Health & Social Care in the Community · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00540.x · Cited by 47 · see citing works
“The ASW role appears to reduce job satisfaction (even when other explanatory variables such as work context and environment, personal characteristics and job content are controlled for) (Evans et al. 2005), and also increases the GHQ score for men.”
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“…in the workplace, has focused mainly on the detrimental effects of the profession (Coyle et al., 2005; Jones and Novak, 1993), specifically such phenomena as worker burnout, blunted employee morale, or workplace turnover (Evans et al., 2006; Gleason-Wynn and Mindel, 1999; Kim and Stoner, 2008).”
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“This is compatible with other research findings (e.g. Evans et al., 2006; Leino et al., 2011; Nelson-Gardell & Harris, 2003).”
BackgroundResultJob Satisfaction and Burnout Among Staff Working in Community-Based Personality Disorder Services
Crawford, M., Adedeji, T., Price, K., & Rutter, D. (2009) · International Journal of Social Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0020764009105702 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
“Concerns have been expressed about problems in retaining staff in mental health services (Evans et al., 2006; Ito et al., 2001).”
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“It is also possible that employment frustration reflects dissatisfaction with one’s current job, which has also been found to be associated with negative health outcomes (Evans et al., 2006; Faragher, Cass, & Cooper, 2005; Fischer & Sousa-Poza, 2009).”
Job Demands, Resources, and Burnout in Social Workers in China: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness
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“One study of mental health social workers in England has found that high job demands and low control were individually associated with low wellbeing, but did not test for interaction effects (Evans et al., 2006).”
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McFadden, P., Neill, R. D., Mallett, J., Manthorpe, J., Gillen, P. A., Moriarty, J., Currie, D., Schroder, H. S., Ravalier, J. M., Nicholl, P., et al. (2021) · The British Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcab198 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
“, 2020) and are influenced strongly by negative psychological impact (Evans et al., 2006; Harrikari et al., 2021; Savaya et al., 2021).”
BackgroundClient Violence and Mental Health Status among Iranian Social Workers: A National Survey
Padyab, M., Chelak, H. M., Nygren, L., & Ghazinour, M. (2011) · The British Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcr053 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Tatsuse, T., & Sekine, M. (2013) · Industrial Health · doi:10.2486/indhealth.2012-0058 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Bangwal, D., Kumar, R., Suyal, J., & Ghouri, A. M. (2023) · Annals of Operations Research · doi:10.1007/s10479-023-05431-1 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
“Otherwise, it will decrease occupants as well as organizational productivity (Pieper et al., 2019 ; Monzani et al., 2018; Grawitch et al., 2015; Evans et al., 2006; Faragher et al., 2005 ; Humbeek et al., 2004 ).”
Büyükşahin Çevik, G. (2017) · Universal Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.13189/ujer.2017.050306 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
“have relationships with job satisfaction as well [34].”
BackgroundEmotional intelligence as a part of critical reflection in social work practice and research
Herland, M. D. (2021) · Qualitative Social Work · doi:10.1177/14733250211024734 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
“Social workers often experience high levels of stress and burnout, but most remain committed to their work without fully recognising its emotional toll (Evans et al., 2006; Kim, 2011; Ruch, 2012).”
BackgroundBurnout Among Social Workers in Social Services: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence
Bertomeu, V. M. G., Caravaca-Sánchez, F., Hartmann, N. D. A., & Ricoy-Cano, A. J. (2024) · Journal of Social Service Research · doi:10.1080/01488376.2024.2371847 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
“As shown in Table 1, a total of six studies (Caravaca-Sánchez et al., 2019; Caravaca-Sánchez et al., 2021; Evans et al., 2006; Martínez-López et al., 2021; Roca, 2018; Toledano & Ruíz-Olivares, 2023) offered this information, including a total of 1478 social workers (73.0% women and 17.0% men),…”
InfluentialKoutra, K., Mavroeides, G., & Triliva, S. (2021) · Community Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1007/s10597-021-00874-x · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Hotel building design, occupants’ health and performance in response to COVID 19
Bangwal, D., Suyal, J., & Kumar, R. (2022) · International Journal of Hospitality Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2022.103212 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Hamama, L. (2011) · The British Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcr135 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
EN, O. F. A. (2015) · African Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4172/psychiatry.1000198 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
“The GHQ-12 has also been used for studies in Nigeria [19].”
MethodEvans, S., & Huxley, P. J. (2008) · Health & Social Care in the Community · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2524.2008.00818.x · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Similarly, social workers working in some service-areas [e.g. Approved Social Workers (ASWs); Evans et al. 2005b, 2006] are less satisfied in the jobs than others.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citationAdams, D. R., Williams, N. J., Becker‐Haimes, E. M., Skriner, L. C., Shaffer, L. R., DeWitt, K., Neimark, G. B., Jones, D. T., & Beidas, R. S. (2019) · Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research · doi:10.1007/s10488-019-00949-8 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
The Schwartz Centre Rounds: Supporting mental health workers with the emotional impact of their work
Allen, D. E., Spencer, G., McEwan, K., Catarino, F., Evans, R., Quesnel-Crooks, S., & Gilbert, P. (2020) · International Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/inm.12729 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
de Castro, A. B., Gee, G. C., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2008) · AAOHN Journal · doi:10.3928/08910162-20080101-01 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
“dissatisfaction focused on specific occupations, such as nurses, physicians, home care workers, and mental health professionals, and workplaces (Denton, Zeytinoglu, Davies, & Lian, 2002; Evans et al., 2006; Johnson et al., 1995; Ma, Samuels, & Alexander, 2003).”
BackgroundFactors Affecting Burnout in Manufacturing Industries
Soelton, M., Hardianti, D., Kuncoro, S., & Jumadi, J. (2020) · International Conference on Management, Economics and Business (ICMEB) · doi:10.2991/aebmr.k.200205.010 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
“Burnout is also defined as fatigue due to excessive demands on energy and resources [29].”
BackgroundXie, X., Huang, C., Cheung, S., Zhou, Y., & Fang, J. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741563 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Occupational stress and job burnout in mental health
Lasalvia, A., & Tansella, M. (2011) · Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences · doi:10.1017/s2045796011000576 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“, 2000), su caratteristiche individuali di tipo lavorativo (Prosser et al., 1999; Kilfedder et al., 2001; Evans et al., 2006) o su tratti personologici predisponenti (Naisberg-Fennig et al.”
InfluentialYi, J., Chen, I., Lin, C., Li, C.-C., Liao, X.-L., Zhi-hui, W., & Gamble, J. H. (2021) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare9091199 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“Since PNT is positively associated with teacher burnout (including anxiety and depression) [35,40], the model hypothesizes that PNT of online teaching will be positively related to mental health problems since PNT has been demonstrated to serve as a proxy for psychological distress [41,47].”
BackgroundChallis, D., Tucker, S., Wilberforce, M., Brand, C., Abendstern, M., Stewart, K., Jasper, R., Harrington, V., Verbeek, H., Jolley, D. J., et al. (2014) · Programme Grants for Applied Research · doi:10.3310/pgfar02040 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Kagan, M. (2021) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/0033294120945593 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
“These included years of professional experience in the role of nurse, self-rated health (Idler & Benyamini, 1997), self-efficacy (Chen et al., 2001; Pisanti et al., 2015), self-defined burnout (Schmoldt et al., 1994), and gender (Kagan et al., 2018; Kagan et al., 2017; Evans et al., 2006).”
BackgroundWorkforce development: An important paradigm shift for the alcohol and other drugs sector
ROCHE, A. M., & Nicholas, R. S. (2016) · Drugs Education Prevention and Policy · doi:10.1080/09687637.2016.1262823 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Dinibutun, S. R. (2023) · Journal of Healthcare Leadership · doi:10.2147/jhl.s440021 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“77 In exploring the association between burnout, job satisfaction, and mental health, Evans et al 78 discovered that social workers experienced very high levels of stress and emotional fatigue, as well as very low levels of job satisfaction.”
BackgroundDeveloping and Testing a Model of Burnout at Work and Turnover Intensions among Doctors in Pakistan
Malik, M. I., Zaheer, A., Khan, M. A., & Ahmed, M. (2010) · International Journal of Business and Management · doi:10.5539/ijbm.v5n10p234 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“In another study Evans et al., (2006) examined the prevalence of stress and burnout, and job satisfaction among mental health social workers (MHSWs) and the author has examined the factors responsible for prevalence of stress and burnout by using a combination of questionnaires.”
MethodZdeb, M., Papciak, D., & Zamorska, J. (2018) · E3S Web of Conferences · doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20184500111 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Psychiatric caregiver stress: clinical implications of compassion fatigue.
Franza, F., Buono, G. D., & Pellegrino, F. (2015) · PubMed · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Job satisfaction of mental healthcare workers in multidisciplinary teams
Scanlan, L. M., Devine, S., & Watkins, D. L. (2019) · Journal of Mental Health · doi:10.1080/09638237.2019.1644489 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“For social workers, the impact of higher workloads was being undervalued in their role and being vulnerable to stress in delivering mental health care services – a finding consistent with Evans et al. (2006).”
BackgroundResultSocial Workers in Israel: Compassion, Fatigue, and Spillover into Married Life
Finzi-Dottan, R., & Kormosh, M. B. (2016) · Journal of Social Service Research · doi:10.1080/01488376.2016.1147515 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“Several factors are described as predicting and even increasing secondary traumatization and burnout, such as case load and the type of trauma suffered by patients (Hess, 2002), low sense of professional selfefficacy (Berger & Gelkopf, 2011), and deficiency in support systems (Events et al., 2006).”
BackgroundInfluentialKing, E. (2021) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105763 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Fleury, M., Grenier, G., Bamvita, J., & Chiocchio, F. (2017) · Psychiatric Quarterly · doi:10.1007/s11126-017-9543-6 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“These new services or organizational features require interdisciplinary teamwork, which is now the dominant model of healthcare delivery in general, and more particularly in mental health [8].”
BackgroundWittyFit—Live Your Work Differently: Study Protocol for a Workplace-Delivered Health Promotion
Dutheil, F., Duclos, M., Naughton, G. A., Dewavrin, S., Cornet, T., Huguet, P., Chatard, J., & Pereira, B. (2017) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/resprot.6267 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Job demand, control and unresolved stress within the emotional work of long-term care in England
Hussein, S. (2018) · International Journal of Care and Caring · doi:10.1332/239788218x15187915863909 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Xia, Y. J., Zhang, L., & Zhao, N. (2016) · The Spanish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1017/sjp.2016.56 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“Empirical evidence claims that higher level of decision-making latitude is associated with a greater sense of job satisfaction (Evans et al., 2005; Sagie et al., 2002; Witt et al., 2000).”
BackgroundThe limbic model of systemic trauma
Tyler, T. (2011) · Journal of Social Work Practice · doi:10.1080/02650533.2011.602474 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“In a study measuring stress in approved social workers and mental health social workers, very high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion was found in both samples (Evans et al., 2006).”
BackgroundVariables associated with job satisfaction among mental health professionals
Fleury, M., Grenier, G., Bamvita, J., & Farand, L. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0205963 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Kim, S., Wong, A. K. F., Han, H., & Yeung, M. W. (. (2021) · Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research · doi:10.1080/10941665.2021.1998161 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“In contrast, mental health problems are influential factors that create burnout syndrome and negatively affect job satisfaction (Bond & Bunce, 2003; Cheng & Yi, 2018; Evans et al., 2006; Nadinloyi et al., 2013).”
BackgroundWu, Y., Wei, Y., Li, Y., Pang, J., & Su, Y. (2022) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.952269 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Deciding to Detain: The Use of Compulsory Mental Health Law by UK Social Workers
Campbell, J. (2009) · The British Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp121 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Noblet, A. J., Allisey, A., Nielsen, I. L., Cotton, S., LaMontagne, A. D., & Page, K. M. (2016) · Health Care Management Review · doi:10.1097/hmr.0000000000000104 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“The results involving job control are consistent with previous studies involving community health personnel where close associations between job control and job satisfaction have been identified (Evans et al., 2006; Noblet et al., 2007).”
ResultCaravaca-Sanchez, F., Barrera-Algarín, E., Seller, E. P., & Sarasola, J. L. (2019) · Trabajo Social Global-Global Social Work · doi:10.30827/tsg-gsw.v9i17.8284 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Furminger, E., & Webber, M. (2008) · The British Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcm171 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationTyrer, P. J., & Tyrer, H. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781911623403 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Fu, A., Zhao, T., Gao, X., Li, X., Liu, X., & Liu, J. (2022) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1049822 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“Job burnout occurred in response to factors such as excessive working hours (18), high job demands, and lower job control (19).”
Background
- Authors
- Evans, S., Huxley, P., Gately, C., Webber, M., Mears, A., Pajak, S., Medina, J., Kendall, T., & Katona, C.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Evans, Sherrill
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 188
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 75-80
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2140561684
- Cited by
- 319
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 13.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Cronfa (Swansea University) (submittedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Social Work Education and Practice
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Burnout
- Keywords
- mental health social workers, burnout, job satisfaction, occupational stress, emotional exhaustion, job demands, job content, recruitment and retention, mental health services, England and Wales
- MeSH terms
- Burnout, Professional, Community Mental Health Services, England, Female, Health Personnel, Humans, Job Satisfaction, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Work, Stress, Psychological, Wales
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