PREDICTORS OF JOB-SATISFACTION AND BURNOUT AMONG THE DIRECT-CARE STAFF OF A COMMUNITY LEARNING-DISABILITY SERVICE

This study examined occupational stress amongst direct care staff in a n NHS community service for people with learning disabilities. A quest ionnaire was designed to investigate which characteristics of work had an effect on job satisfaction and burnout. Payne's (1979) model of oc cupational stress was tested. Payne posits that stress is a function o f the interaction between demands, supports and constraints. Empirical support for Payne's model was found and five important demand factors were highlighted: role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, resid ent characteristics and non-participation in decision-making. The resu lts suggest that occupational stress amongst staff caring for people w ith learning disabilities is best reduced by increasing support, since the job is likely to remain demanding. Suggestions are made concernin g how support may be increased.