Cited by 320Stress and Burnout ResearchSocial Work Education and PracticeOccupational Health and Burnout

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 14 of the 14 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales

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Abstract

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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Show all 14 references

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Maslach, 1986, Manual of the Maslach Burnout Inventory
  2. 1995, Health Survey for England, 1994 – 5
  3. 2004, Inspection of Social Work in Mental Health Services
  4. 2002, Comprehensive Performance Assessment. Local Authority National Report
  5. 2002, Local Government Recruitment and Retention Survey
  6. Pajak, 2003, Workload and Working Patterns in Consultant Psychiatrists. An Investigation into Occupational Pressures and Burdens. Project Report – June 2003
  7. Eborall, 2001, Desk Research on Recruitment and Retention in Social Care and Social Work
  8. Goldberg, 1992, Common Mental Disorder: A Bio-Social Model

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Metadata

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
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
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 › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › 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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