Burnout amongst Generalist and Forensic SocialWorkers: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Forensic social work poses obstacles that can increase the risk of burnout amongpractitioners. Prior research studies have explored burnout among generalistsocial workers; however, there is a noticeable deficiency in the literatureregarding burnout among forensic social workers, as well as the absence ofcomparisons between these two professions to discern variations in burnoutpatterns. The aim of this study was to compare burnout patterns amonggeneralist and forensic social workers using a quantitative approach and acomparison group design. Qualified generalist and forensic social workers froman accredited South African university participated in an all-inclusive willingparticipation sample approach. The study found that, while both groups hadmoderate degrees of emotional exhaustion, forensic social workers experiencedhigher levels. There were also significant disparities in depersonalisation, withforensic social workers suggesting higher levels. This study contributes tounderstanding burnout patterns in forensic social workers, highlighting the needfor targeted efforts to mitigate their effects