Date of Award
Spring 5-16-2016
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Department
Counseling and Human Services
First Advisor
Andrea Doyle, PhD
Second Advisor
Casey Bohrman, PhD
Third Advisor
Tessa Hart, PhD
Abstract
Work-related stress is a concern for brain injury rehabilitation professionals, and several research studies concluded this leads to burnout. There is limited research to identify what about working in brain injury rehabilitation increases the risk of work-related stress. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore what about working in brain injury rehabilitation is difficult, how brain injury rehabilitation professionals experience stress and what strategies professionals utilize to reduce stress. Results of this study suggest the lack of funding and resources, the nature of brain injury as a lifelong disability, and the arduous and lengthy rehabilitation process to be the most difficult aspects for professionals working in the brain injury rehabilitation field. Brain injury rehabilitation professionals identified anosognosia, poor insight, to be the most stressful cognitive deficit to treat. Frustration was expressed in regards to the challenge of balancing the completion of administrative duties with providing quality clinical care to survivors with brain injuries. Brain injury rehabilitation professionals experience the effects of work-related stress in both their work environments and in their personal lives. Brain injury rehabilitation professionals noted the importance of collaborating on an interdisciplinary team and utilizing their peers and supervisors for support when faced with stressful situations. Additionally, the term compassion fatigue appears to be the most relevant term to describe the nature of work-related stress experienced by brain injury rehabilitation professionals.
Recommended Citation
Murray, Gillian MN, "A Mental Minute: A Qualitative Exploration of Work-Related Stress in Brain Injury Rehabilitation Professionals" (2016). Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations. 81.
https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/81