Abstract
Christian social workers have a dual role providing social services with compassion, love, and a higher calling. However, due to these dual roles, many have endured burnout at some level in their careers. The consequences of burnout can be harmful to workers, the people whom they service, their families and their careers. The goal in exploring this topic is to assist helpers, social workers and leaders in ministries with identifying the stressors that lead to burnout and with formulating plans to alleviate stress by using self-care tools. They will use these tools to help prevent future stressors from involvement in ministry, family or employment. This article reviews literature that explores the impact of burnout on helping professionals, Christian social workers and clergy and provides self-care tools to utilize in preventing burnout.
Careers in social work services, along with many other helping professions, have been identified as stress inducing and time consuming. The stress that is developed while providing social services is well known among many helping professionals, but how are Christian social workers impacted? Many Christian social workers have felt that it is their calling to provide services regardless of the stressors or potential for burnout. Parkes, Milner and Gilbert found that approximately 60 per cent of their 200 study participants agreed that their personal sense of spirituality influenced their daily working life. 1
Christian social workers were the initial pioneers for social work services and have provided much of their work in or from churches. Historically, the earliest provision of services, in the Middle Ages, was from church-based ministering to the poor. Social work services have evolved to include social justice and social advocacy services outside of the Church; however, Christian social workers are still highly prevalent in the field and are the largest group of practitioners who self-identify as Christian. 2 They have expressed their Christian faith as the motivator for choosing the social work profession. In a study of undergraduates at a US Christian university, 83 per cent reported that their religious beliefs were noted predictors of having at least some influence on their career choice and 57 per cent said that they were very important. 3
Burnout
Although Christian social workers feel that they are motivated by their faith to provide services, burnout is widespread. Job burnout is a continuing threat in many human service-related fields. 4 Burnout causes job dissatisfaction, job withdrawal, absenteeism and staff turnover. It has been recognized as an occupational hazard for various people‐oriented professions, such as human services, education and healthcare, for many years. 5 It is a critical health issue for many service professionals and has been researched since the mid-1970s. 6 Burnout was initially discovered and evaluated in health and social services fields. 7 Pam Nugent defined burnout as ‘stress without let-up’; 8 she stated further that this stress leads to a burnout wherein a sense of negativity builds up while performance in many areas of one’s life breaks down. However, Herbert J. Freudenberger defined burnout as a display of negative feelings felt by workers in helping professions as a result of long-term exhaustion, diminished interest and low feelings of personal satisfaction at work. 9 He also explained burnout as a ‘buzz word for many personal and social problems’. 10 Since social workers service people in many complex and stressful situations, they are an at-risk group for burnout and stress, with chronic work stress as a major contributor to burnout. 11 Studies have demonstrated that helping professionals such as social workers and human service workers are at a greater risk of job burnout in comparison to workers in other professions. 12
Burnout is divided into three different scopes: emotional exhaustion, where the person becomes emotionally drained; depersonalization, where pessimism and withdrawal can be a result; and a low sense of personal accomplishment. 13 Burnout is also defined as ‘emotional collapse or breakdown that sometimes comes as the result of chronic stress’ regarding job-related roles and responsibilities. 14 Freudenberger further suggests that the lack of recognition of efforts to attain achievement exasperates the condition; especially if one has a high level of expectations, burnout can be a result. 15
Burnout is not just trying to keep your head above water; it is more like just trying to keep one nostril above water, according to Mann. 16 The consequences of burnout can be harmful to the worker, the people whom they serve, their families and the church, as well as to their employment. Miner, Dowson and Sterland mentioned that Christian ministers have work-related stresses that are typical of other human service professions and occupations. 17 They have found that most work stress is a result of rigid work schedules, bureaucracy, conflicts between personal and congregational expectation and conflicted personal relationships. 18 Research on 5,000 US Protestant clergy members found that 75 per cent reported stress. Their stress was the catalyst for distress, depression, frustration, and feelings regarding their vocational ability. 19 The most common source of stressors was congregational relationships. 20 In a study of 312 pastors from five Protestant congregations, it was found that ministry demands were more highly correlated with ministry burnout, well-being and satisfaction with life. 21 In another qualitative study of 17 ministers completed by Leavell, Aten and Boan, 22 it was found that many participants of the study reported experiences with burnout, self-neglect, lack of support and denial. ‘The chaos of disaster ministry was unrelenting, and some participants did not recognize that they were unable to withstand the constant physical, emotional, and personal demands until they were already burnt out.’ 23
Messiah trap
Many Christian social workers have felt that, due to their calling and role in a helping profession, ‘If I don’t do it, it won’t happen,’ as Berry pointed out in her book. 24 One part of this concept is the belief that if one doesn’t do it then it will not happen, and that they are the only person who can make it happen. Sometimes Christian social workers will find themselves exhibiting behaviours as if they were a higher being. They feel that it is their responsibility to save people. They have the belief that they are the only ones who can save people and therefore it becomes their assignment. This belief leads those who are displaying this behaviour to believe that they are the only ones who are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to help those in need. When this mentality is displayed, workers are persuaded that God has gifted them or blessed them with the resources necessary to help others. Unfortunately, this belief makes people depend solely on their own resources and not on God’s.
Another perspective to this concept is the belief that ‘everyone else’s needs take priority over mine’. 25 Berry further discusses the impact that this perspective can have on people. She states that people who fall into the ‘Messiah trap’ are ‘helpaholics’. 26 Her definition of a ‘helpaholic’ is as follows: ‘[I]f you are the person who spends most of your time helping others while your own needs often get pushed to the side, then you are suffering from the Messiah Trap.’ 27 ‘Messiahs’ are people who want to help wherever they go, choosing professions where they can be helpful, who are relied upon and have the answers to questions. ‘Messiahs’ neglect themselves and sacrifice their own well-being for the sake of others, while feeling guilty if they take time for their own personal needs, with the pressure of having too much to do. 28 They believe that the world must be fixed first before their needs are attended to.
Self-care
Self-care has been of great concern to helping professionals at risk of burnout. According to DeMarais, self-care is a way to find balance while serving others to avoid burnout. It is an important vehicle for promoting well-being. 29 It is an action in which a person intentionally decides that they will participate in activities that will create peace of mind, tranquillity of the soul and rejuvenation of the body as a result of serving others, working hard in their profession or enduring hardship. As Christian social workers, it is crucial to continued health and well-being to incorporate self-care practices into a daily regime. The Chemist+Druggist website reported that self-care should be given serious consideration. It challenges people to care for themselves first before they care for others and it should be given serious consideration. 30
Deneweth discussed tips for self-care in a culture that glorifies stress. 31 She addressed the perspective that many feel that it is important to continue to push themselves past exhaustion instead of taking time out for self-care. Many cultures pride themselves on being able to have time to relax and provide self-care as well as care for their family. Miller-McLemore suggests that the idea of self-care seems ‘most appropriate to an affluent culture’. 32 It has been a fad, a topic of discussion in training and workshops and a hashtag written by millennials. It is something that is attainable yet challenging to pursue or attain. It involves the ability to self-manage and self-correct. According to Collins, self-care is a spiritual act and integrates multiple aspects of a person’s life, including health and wellness. 33 Collins further explains that, in literature, it is the belief that it takes a level of self-awareness representing self-love and the affirmation of self-worth, personal well-being and growth. It reflects what we think about ourselves and what we think is important in our lives. 34
Self-care tools
Mindfulness
Mindfulness, a term used to describe a practice of meditative awareness, has now been developed into a more contemporary, secular practice that offers non-judgemental, gentle awareness of a moment in an experience. 35 Although this practice is simple but ‘not easy’, as Moss et al. explain, 36 it is a way of enhancing one’s moment-by-moment experience as an opportunity to non-judgementally analyse the process of thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness can be experienced simply by sitting in silence, allowing an opportunity to follow each breath as a form of relaxation, which can significantly impact the level of one’s ability to tolerate work issues as well as life difficulties. 37
In a research study conducted by Moss et al., mindfulness was assessed in a community-based mindfulness training group. 38 This group evaluated the experiences of participants with a range of problems in health and difficulties in life. In presenting the topic of mindfulness, the study participants received the information as a ‘tool for life’ to assist them with everyday circumstances instead of using mindfulness as a ‘treatment’. 39 The analysis found that the participants revealed that the group was a productive and safe space. The participants also reported a positive impact of mindfulness on their everyday life experiences and that using the tool helped them have greater resilience in difficult times. This research was geared to assist a community with identifying other tools to help them to navigate troubled times. As far as ministry leaders are concerned, this tool is proven to assist in alleviating stress levels.
Davis reports on a study that was conducted that assessed the practice of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques with clergy using a holistic approach. 40 The study was geared to assess the practice of MBSR to see if it can lessen the symptoms of burnout while increasing psychological and physical well-being and self-efficacy. The study was conducted with a group of ordained Protestant ministers. The study used the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). It was hypothesized that there would be a significant decrease in psychological stress assessed by using the BSI, a significant increase in self-efficacy as measured by the GSE, and a significant increase in personal accomplishment and a decrease in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization measured by using the MBI. The assessments were given to the participants at pre-treatment then at the conclusion of the eight-week MBSR programme. The results of the study suggested that a mindfulness-based intervention may play a significant role in preventing burnout. Additionally, Davis received suggestions for further study and implementation of his research and wellness programmes from participants. 41
Marks and Moriconi wrote a chapter in an international handbook by McCown, Reibel and Micozzi entitled Resources for Teaching Mindfulness. 42 The chapter generated a mindfulness-based intervention curriculum for clergy and religious personnel. They developed this curriculum for individuals experiencing vocational stress that could eventually evolve into psychological distress. This mindfulness programme explored different themes and challenges specific to those in serving/helping roles. Although the programme was designed to be used within mental health services, it could be offered for lower levels of distress and for those who did not need mental health services. Although mindfulness-based therapy was provided, ministry leaders found it to be a challenge to fulfil ministerial duties and prevent burnout. 43
Lewis-Hathaway and Eubanks proposed that individuals who participated in a mindfulness intervention would decrease their levels of burnout and increase mindfulness. 44 Participants reported that mindfulness gave them a greater insight into their bodies and their feelings of stress and thought processes, and a greater desire to share their feelings with others. Mindfulness can provide the opportunity for increased coping skills, greater insight and awareness. Sultan states that mindfulness has been shown to be effective in psychotherapy and as a self-care practice for mental health therapists. 45 Sultan also asserts that mindfulness teaches awareness to deepen groundedness, presence and connection with others and with the world, further explaining that self-care is essential to mental health practitioner training and professional efficacy. 46
Yoga
Yoga is a mind–body intervention and discipline that unites the mind, body and spirit. Although there is a spiritual element to the discipline of yoga, many have used it as an opportunity to enhance their physical posture, to control breathing and to meditate. Historically, yoga has been proven to reduce signs of psychological stress. It is also seen as a form of mind–body therapy for many clinical disorders and conditions, as well as for maintenance and disease prevention.
Following a yogic way of life has proven to be significant in the reduction of stress. In a study conducted by Adhia, Nagendra and Mahadevan, it was shown that adopting yoga as a way of life can also decrease burnout in managers. 47 The study hypothesized that managers who learn to use yoga in their lives as a form of burnout reduction will fare better than managers who use other forms of stress reduction to improve physical and mental progress. Although many suggested the use of coping strategies for stress, it was proven in this experiment that yoga is the best form of stress reduction since it can decrease the individual’s responses to stress stimuli. Using this intervention as a self-care practice could reduce the levels of stress that contribute to the burnout that Christian social workers, ministry leaders and other helping professionals endure.
In studies completed by Chong et al., the effect of yoga on stress management in healthy adults was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Daily Stress and/or the Stress and Energy Test. 48 They also used physiological measures – salivary cortisol levels – to assess stress levels. In all of their studies, they found positive results for reducing stress levels after completing a yoga intervention. Stress and anxiety levels decreased while cognitive functioning, sleep, physical and mental health, as well as quality of life, improved significantly. Yoga was proven to be as effective as African dance, cognitive behavioural therapy and muscle relaxation in decreasing perceived stress. 49 Adhia et al. found that yoga helps a person identify their stressors and the root of their stress, which makes them more aware of their situation and allows better responses. 50 The results of this experiment proved that, by incorporating yoga into their life, it can significantly reduce job burnout among managers.
Yoga has been proven in many different scenarios as an intervention that can assist in alleviating stress and in decreasing physiological disorders and conditions, as well as in preventing burnout. Social workers, helping professionals and clergy can use a yogic way of life to get to the root of their stress and learn how to change their emotional, psychological and spiritual ways of thinking to better be able to process their stress and alleviate it, and to serve others.
Conclusion
Incorporating self-care practices in social work practice is vital for the continued opportunity to provide services effectively and efficiently. Many have endured years of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burnout. It is important and completely necessary always to care for yourself when you are in a helping profession. In particular, it is necessary to care for yourself before care can be administered to others. Working as a social worker in the child welfare system in the city of Philadelphia for many years, I have experienced cases that would require an insurmountable amount of my time, physically and emotionally. I was drained by the emotional turmoil and the desire to ensure that my work was done completely, clients were attended to, and families were safe. I worked overtime, evenings, weekends and some holidays to ensure that best practices were adhered to. I wore myself out trying to ensure that everyone else was properly cared for; subsequently, my own self-care diminished.
My health, energy and emotional regulation decreased while the accumulation of stress and burnout increased. I knew I needed to make a change in my life and schedule more time to assess the impact of stress and burnout in my life. With the assistance of information gained from workshops and training sessions, I learned how to breathe, relax and take time out for myself and still provide excellent care to clients. Moving forward, when I became a supervisor, I became an advocate for self-care for every case manager whom I supervised and for every social work student whom I taught in field placement. It became an integral component of our supervision, team meetings and team-building exercises. Self-care was facilitated throughout the team meetings and supervision in our conversations with staff as well as in our interactions with clients. The tools presented may not be effective for all social workers; however, it is ultimately the responsibility of the worker to ensure that they are mindful of their effectiveness and adequately monitor whether they are deteriorating as a result of the services that are being provided.