Content area
Full Text
Abstract
Prior research indicates that human service care providers experience higher levels of chronic workplace stress and burnout than workers in other professions. Despite the documented need for support, there remains a dearth of research on appropriate training interventions for these workers. In addition, although human service work requires interpersonal connection and can be intrinsically rewarding, research on stress and burnout has overshadowed the study of empathy and meaning to help providers in human service settings. Juvenile justice officers (JJOs), who have the important and stressful job of working closely with incarcerated youth populations, have been especially understudied. This article explores stress among JJOs and training interventions through a review of the literature and presentation of original case study data. The case study includes qualitative analysis of (a) interpersonal stress through a new lens of empathy and meaning and (b) the development and delivery of a pilot training program targeted to help JJOs reduce stress and facilitate empathy and meaning. The conclusion addresses opportunities to support JJOs in managing interpersonal stress and finding meaning in their work.
Keywords: juvenile justice officers, interpersonal stress, burnout, empathy, meaning in work, stress reduction training
Introduction
A robust body of research indicates that professionals working as human service care providers experience higher levels of chronic workplace stress and burnout than those in other professions (Zammuner, Lotto, & Galli, 2003). There has been significantly more research on stress and interventions to reduce it among human service care providers in the fields of education, social welfare, and health care than for those in law enforcement and criminal justice, such as the population considered in this case study: juvenile justice officers, or JJOs. Chronic workplace stress is linked to a variety of poor health and psychosocial outcomes, including accelerated aging (Epel et al., 2004), coronary heart disease and high blood pressure (Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004), mental health distress (Lazarus, 1966), and job burnout (Jackson & Maslach, 1982; Schaufeli, Leiter, & Maslach, 2009). Despite the well-researched prevalence and consequences of workplace stress, more research is needed on interventions to support these providers (Edwards, Burnard, Coyle, Fothergill, & Hannigan, 2000).
JJOs have the difficult and important job of working with the most troubled youth in every county across the country. These youth...