Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to investigate the sources of stress and burnout in
the social work profession and specifically in mental health settings. In
order to achieve this, a literature study is undertaken which identified the
sources of stress and burnout as external and internal stresses. External
stresses can be identified as the administrative function of supervision,
the educational function of supervision, and the relationship between the
supervisor, the social worker and the client, aspects in the social work
profession and the organisation. The personality and gender of the social
worker are discussed as internal sources of stress. Social workers'
experiences of stress and burnout are explored against the background of
the socio-economic and political changes after the first democratic
election in 1994 in South Africa.
The literature review also indicated that there are peculiar stresses in
mental health settings due to the clients' mental conditions.
An exploratory study was undertaken in which 17 social workers in the
Peninsula, working in mental health settings, participated. Information on
the research topic was obtained by means of anonymous questionnaires. A
group interview was arranged to ensure that all the questionnaires were
received.
It was found that since the 1994 democratic election, social workers
worked under more stressful circumstances due to limited resources,
restructuring, decreased manpower, a higher caseload, deinstitutionalisation
of mental patients and an increased amount of uncertainty with regard to job security. Aspects in the social work
profession that caused the most stress were identified as insufficient
salaries and limited opportunities for promotion. The participants revealed
uncertainty with regard to their future in the social work profession.
Social workers acknowledge the importance of the supportive function of
supervision but are also of the opinion that individuals should take
responsibility to address burnout. Strategies that can be used by the
social worker, the organisation and the supervisor to address burnout, are
discussed.
On the basis of the results and conclusion of the study, recommendations
are made to supervisors, as well as further research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word ondersoek ingestel na die bronne van stres en
uitbranding in die maatskaplikewerkberoep en spesifiek in 'n
geestesgesondheidsopset. Ten einde hierin te slaag, word 'n
literatuurstudie onderneem en word die bronne van stres en uitbranding
geïdentifiseer as eksterne stressors soos byvoorbeeld die administratiewe
funksie van supervisie, die onderrrigfunksie van supervisie, die verhouding
tussen die supervisor en die maatskaplike werker, die klientsisteem,
aspekte in die maatskaplikewerkberoep en die organisasie, en interne
stressors waaronder die maatskaplike werker se persoonlikheid en geslag
bespreek is. Die sosio-ekonomiese en politieke veranderinge wat ingetree
het na die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in 1994 in Suid-Afrika is in ag
geneem en maatskaplike werkers se belewing van stres en uitbranding is
teen hierdie agtergrond verder ge-eksploreer.
Die literatuurstudie dui aan dat eiesoortige stressors in 'n
geestesgesondheidsopset bestaan wat hoofsaaklik verband hou met die
unieke kliëntsisteem en hul siektestoestand.
'n Verkennende studie is onderneem waartydens maatskaplike werkers in
die skiereiland wat in 'n geestesgesondheidsopset werk, betrek is.
Inligting is bekom deur middel van anonieme vraelyste. 'n Groeponderhoud
het verseker dat al die vraelyste terug ontvang is.
Daar is bevind dat maatskaplike werkers onder meer stresvolle
omstandighede voor die 1994 verkiesing vanwee beperkte hulpbronne,
herstrukturering, verminderde mannekrag, verhoogde gevalleladings, deïnstitusionalisering van pasiënte en groter onsekerheid met betrekking
tot werksekuriteit. Aspekte in die maatskaplikewerkberoep wat die meeste
stres veroorsaak is onder andere onvoldoende vergoeding en beperkte
bevorderingsgeleenthede. Die respondente weerspieël 'n onsekerheid met
betrekking tot hul toekoms in die beroep. Maatskaplike werkers erken die belangrikheid van die ondersteuningsfunksie in supervisie, maar is ook van mening dat individue 'n
verantwoordelikheid het om self uitbranding aan te spreek. Strategieë wat
die maatskaplike werker, die organisasie en die supervisor kan aanwend om
uitbranding aan te spreek word derhalwe bespreek.
In die lig van die bevindinge van die ondersoek, word aanbevelings aan
supervisors gemaak ten opsigte van verdere navorsing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52230 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Jeftha, Ellen Magdalena |
| Contributors | Cronje, J. I., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 112 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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