Autoeficácia e burnout: resultados após uma intervenção direcionada a profissionais da área de proteção a crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Jobs of protecting children and adolescents area are characterized by a frequent connection with people in need of protection and the impotence through the adversities faced at work. Therefore, these professionals can become vulnerable to occupational psychopathology due to the complexity of the work. The burnout, on the other hand, is a syndrome related to work environment and has generated concerns because of the seriousness of its consequences. Moreover, self-efficacy has been shown to be a protective factor to this psychopathology and interventions that enhance the perception of self-efficacy, along with coping strategies are needed. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to evaluate the correlation between burnout and selfefficacy, as well as changes in its indices, after an intervention aimed at professionals from social care, working with children and adolescents. To this end, two empirical studies were conducted, distinct but complementary. The study I aimed to examine associations between self-efficacy and burnout in employees of Social Assistance. This study comprised 77 professionals, including educators, psychologists, social workers and council members (mage=32,58 sd= 9,11). The instruments used were the Biosociodemographic and Labour Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Scale of Occupational self-efficacy. We observed negative association between self-efficacy and the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of burnout and positively associated with the extent of personal accomplishment. These results suggest that the higher perceived self-efficacy in an individual, the lower the risk of symptoms of burnout and rather fewer symptoms of burnout, increased perception of self-efficacy. The objective of the study II to develop and conduct an intervention directed to social workers from a Social Welfare institution and also aimed to verify differences in burnout and self-efficacy indexes before and after the intervention. The sample was composed of 43 professional educators (mage=32,15; sd=9,94). Also, we used the instruments Biosociodemographic and Labour Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Scale of Occupational self-efficacy. Results showed that personal accomplishment increased after the intervention, while the indices of the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were stable between T1 and T2. However, we observed a decrease in the levels of burnout in general, and a trend suggesting an increase in levels of self-efficacy. Although the low generalizability of the data, the results of both studies indicate that interventions that provide theoretical and emotional subsidies are critical to professionals in protecting children and young people. It is assumed that the perception of being able to face everyday adversity of this complex work, can reinforce the perception of self-efficacy employment and personal fulfillment at work. Consequently, it is expected that there might be preventing or reducing of risk to the development of burnout. More studies looking at professionals in the protection of children and adolescents become needed as well as interventions that can offer them support.