IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i6p2246-d332021.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Psychological Capital Protects Social Workers from Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress

Author

Listed:
  • Delia Vîrgă

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, West University of Timișoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Elena-Loreni Baciu

    (The Research-Action Centre on Discrimination and Social Inclusion, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, West University of Timișoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Theofild-Andrei Lazăr

    (The Research-Action Centre on Discrimination and Social Inclusion, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, West University of Timișoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Daria Lupșa

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, West University of Timișoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

Abstract

Summary: To counteract the negative consequences inherent to the emotionally demanding professions like social work, we need to advance the understanding of the resources that preserve the employees’ well-being. This study investigated the role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in protecting social workers from developing burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). The design of the study builds on the job demands-resources model and the conservation of resources theory. A national sample of 193 Romanian social workers participated in the study. We used the structural equation modeling framework for data analysis. We tested two structural models that had burnout as a mediator for the relationship between PsyCap and STS: A partial mediation model and a total mediation model. Findings: The total mediation model was supported by our data suggesting that PsyCap has a protective role against burnout, and subsequently, STS. Moreover, the results indicate that burnout is the critical link between personal resources and STS. Applications: The results of the study contribute to enhancing the protection of the social workers’ well-being in their professional settings, by advancing the knowledge about the resources that need to be developed in order to prevent or reduce the negative job consequences associated with helping professions. As such, increasing PsyCap levels of employees enhance the sustainability of their working conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Delia Vîrgă & Elena-Loreni Baciu & Theofild-Andrei Lazăr & Daria Lupșa, 2020. "Psychological Capital Protects Social Workers from Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2246-:d:332021
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2246/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2246/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pfeffer, Jeffrey, 2010. "Building Sustainable Organizations: The Human Factor," Research Papers 2017r, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    2. Luthans, Fred & Luthans, Kyle W. & Luthans, Brett C., 2004. "Positive psychological capital: beyond human and social capital," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 45-50.
    3. Jiaxi Peng & Xihua Jiang & Jiaxi Zhang & Runxuan Xiao & Yunyun Song & Xi Feng & Yan Zhang & Danmin Miao, 2013. "The Impact of Psychological Capital on Job Burnout of Chinese Nurses: The Mediator Role of Organizational Commitment," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-1, December.
    4. Kotaro Shoji & Magdalena Lesnierowska & Ewelina Smoktunowicz & Judith Bock & Aleksandra Luszczynska & Charles C Benight & Roman Cieslak, 2015. "What Comes First, Job Burnout or Secondary Traumatic Stress? Findings from Two Longitudinal Studies from the U.S. and Poland," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Shim, Miseung, 2010. "Factors influencing child welfare employee's turnover: Focusing on organizational culture and climate," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 847-856, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mariano Meseguer de Pedro & María Magdalena Fernández-Valera & Mariano García-Izquierdo & María Isabel Soler Sánchez, 2021. "Burnout, Psychological Capital and Health during COVID-19 Social Isolation: A Longitudinal Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-11, January.
    2. M. Inmaculada López-Núñez & Susana Rubio-Valdehita & Eva M. Diaz-Ramiro & Marta E. Aparicio-García, 2020. "Psychological Capital, Workload, and Burnout: What’s New? The Impact of Personal Accomplishment to Promote Sustainable Working Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Guido A. Veldhuis & Teun Sluijs & Marianne H. J. van Zwieten & Jildau Bouwman & Noortje M. Wiezer & Heleen M. Wortelboer, 2020. "A Proof-of-Concept System Dynamics Simulation Model of the Development of Burnout and Recovery Using Retrospective Case Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-28, August.
    4. Nasser Saad Al Kahtani & Sulphey M. M., 2022. "A Study on How Psychological Capital, Social Capital, Workplace Wellbeing, and Employee Engagement Relate to Task Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    5. Wen-Ling Hung & Hsiang-Te Liu, 2022. "Causal Model Analysis of Police Officers’ COVID-19 Fear, Resistance to Organizational Change Effect on Emotional Exhaustion and Insomnia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-18, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Miguel Cunha & Arménio Rego & Antonino Vaccaro, 2014. "Organizations as Human Communities and Internal Markets: Searching for Duality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(4), pages 441-455, April.
    2. Haiqiang Guo & Huifang Guo & Yilong Yang & Baozhi Sun, 2015. "Internal and External Factors Related to Burnout among Iron and Steel Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Anshan, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Ghulam Abid & Francoise Contreras & Saira Ahmed & Tehmina Qazi, 2019. "Contextual Factors and Organizational Commitment: Examining the Mediating Role of Thriving at Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Ayatakshee Sarkar & Naval Garg & DK Srivastava & BK Punia, 2024. "Can Gratitude Counter Workplace Toxicity? Exploring the Mediating Role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap)," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 12(2), pages 261-276, April.
    5. Griffiths, Austin & Royse, David & Murphy, April & Jones, Olivia & Culver, Kalee & Turner, James & Smajlovic, Alma, 2023. "Exploratory factor analysis and reliability of the Child Welfare Employee Feedback Scale: Further revision (CWEFS-R)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Wan Rahim Wan Yunan & Aminah Ahmad & Zoharah Omar, 2017. "The Experience of Workplace Spirituality: Do Age and Educational Attainment Matter?," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(7), pages 61-69, July.
    7. Maciej Jagódka & Małgorzata Snarska, 2021. "The State of Human Capital and Innovativeness of Polish Voivodships in 2004–2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Dan Kan & Xiaosong Yu, 2016. "Occupational Stress, Work-Family Conflict and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Bank Employees: The Role of Psychological Capital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, January.
    9. Mohd Hizam Hanafiah, & Sheikh Usman Yousaf, & Bushra Usman,, 2017. "The influence of psychological capital on the growth intentions of entrepreneurs: A study on Malaysian SME entrepreneurs," Business and Economic Horizons (BEH), Prague Development Center, vol. 13(5), pages 556-569, December.
    10. Kristina A. Diekmann & Sheli D. Sillito Walker & Adam D. Galinsky & Ann E. Tenbrunsel, 2013. "Double Victimization in the Workplace: Why Observers Condemn Passive Victims of Sexual Harassment," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 614-628, April.
    11. Bilal El TOUFAIL, 2018. "Consequences Of Organizational Stress On Workforce Productivity. Research On Strategies To Promote A Sustainable Workforce," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 8(2), pages 42-52, June.
    12. Fabien Martinez, 2014. "Corporate strategy and the environment: towards a four-dimensional compatibility model for fostering green management decisions," Post-Print hal-02887618, HAL.
    13. Mahto, Raj V. & Llanos-Contreras, Orlando & Hebles, Melany, 2022. "Post-disaster recovery for family firms: The role of owner motivations, firm resources, and dynamic capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 117-129.
    14. Cheng-Yi Luo & Chin-Hsun (Ken) Tsai & Ming-Hsiang Chen & Jun-Li Gao, 2021. "The Effects of Psychological Capital and Internal Social Capital on Frontline Hotel Employees’ Adaptive Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, May.
    15. Parakandi, Mohammed & Behery, Mohamed, 2016. "Sustainable human resources: Examining the status of organizational work–life balance practices in the United Arab Emirates," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1370-1379.
    16. Nasser Saad Alkahtani & M. M. Sulphey & Kevin Delany & Anass Hamad Elneel Adow, 2021. "A Conceptual Examination about the Correlates of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) among the Saudi Arabian Workforce," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Nasser Saad Al Kahtani & Sulphey M. M., 2022. "A Study on How Psychological Capital, Social Capital, Workplace Wellbeing, and Employee Engagement Relate to Task Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    18. Jie Shen & Hongru Zhang, 2019. "Socially Responsible Human Resource Management and Employee Support for External CSR: Roles of Organizational CSR Climate and Perceived CSR Directed Toward Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(3), pages 875-888, May.
    19. Primrose Madende & Johannes I. F. Henning & Henry Jordaan, 2023. "Accounting for Heterogeneity among Youth: A Missing Link in Enhancing Youth Participation in Agriculture—A South African Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    20. Nair, Sujith & Paulose, Hanna, 2014. "Emergence of green business models: The case of algae biofuel for aviation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 175-184.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2246-:d:332021. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.