BURNOUT IN SOCIAL-WORK

Social workers ave considered an occupational group at above-average r isk for burnout. Nonetheless, there are surprisingly few empirical stu dies on burnout in social work. In a literature search of MEDLINE, Psy chological Abstracts, and Sociological Abstracts, the authors found on ly 18 studies that reported any findings on burnout in social workers. This article reviews these studies with three questions in mind: Are social workers burned out? What is associated with burnout in social w orkers' What should be done about burnout in social workers? The liter ature indicates that social workers suffer less burnout than comparabl e occupational groups. The reviewed studies, however, identified facto rs associated with burnout and ways to prevent burnout in social work. The methodological quality of the studies is analyzed, and recommenda tions for improving research on burnout in social work are made. It is argued that the demand-control-support model of job stress should int egrate the concept of burnout as a complementary outcome variable.