The Impact of Administrative Support on Prison Treatment Staff Burnout: An exploratory Study

This exploratory study examined the relationship between upper-level administrative support and the burnout of 83 mental health and substance abuse staff working within a state prison system in the Midwest. After conducting univariate analyses, The author found that the burnout of the treatment staff seemed quite low, whereas their opinions about the supportiveness of high-ranking treatment managers varied considerably. Stepwise regression procedures indicated that danger, administrative support, and inmate contact, in descending order of strength, were the best predictors of exhaustion (burnout). Weaker perceptions of support from the deputy warden of special services were linked to higher exhaustion scores. A basic content analysis also revealed that the exhaustion of treatment staff could emerge from a range of sources. Suggestions on how to improve managerial support to prevent burnout and recommendations for further research are discussed