Exploring the relationships between self-care and well-being outcomes among child welfare professionals

Shelby L. Clark; Brennan Miller; Becci A. Akin; Kaela Byers; Kelechi Wright; Kortney Carr; Mary Kate Hunt

doi:10.1080/15548732.2024.2306151

Exploring the relationships between self-care and well-being outcomes among child welfare professionals

Shelby L. Clark, Brennan Miller, Becci A. Akin, Kaela Byers, Kelechi Wright, Kortney Carr, Mary Kate Hunt

College of Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Child welfare workers experience increased risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout. Despite encouragement to bolster self-care, little remains known about self-care and well-being outcomes. This study explored frequency of self-care and its relationship with STS, burnout, and compassion satisfaction by surveying 305 child welfare direct service and supervisor professionals. Participants completed the ProQol and reported frequency and types of self-care. Findings indicated frequency of self-care was associated with decreased STS and burnout, and increased compassion satisfaction. Given the prevalence of STS in child welfare, further exploration of self-care and its potential for strengthening well-being is necessary.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	110-140
Number of pages	31
Journal	Journal of Public Child Welfare
Volume	19
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2306151
State	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

Secondary traumatic stress
burnout
child welfare workforce well-being
compassion satisfaction
self-care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Sociology and Political Science

Access to Document

10.1080/15548732.2024.2306151

Cite this

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abstract = "Child welfare workers experience increased risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout. Despite encouragement to bolster self-care, little remains known about self-care and well-being outcomes. This study explored frequency of self-care and its relationship with STS, burnout, and compassion satisfaction by surveying 305 child welfare direct service and supervisor professionals. Participants completed the ProQol and reported frequency and types of self-care. Findings indicated frequency of self-care was associated with decreased STS and burnout, and increased compassion satisfaction. Given the prevalence of STS in child welfare, further exploration of self-care and its potential for strengthening well-being is necessary.",

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AU - Carr, Kortney

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AB - Child welfare workers experience increased risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout. Despite encouragement to bolster self-care, little remains known about self-care and well-being outcomes. This study explored frequency of self-care and its relationship with STS, burnout, and compassion satisfaction by surveying 305 child welfare direct service and supervisor professionals. Participants completed the ProQol and reported frequency and types of self-care. Findings indicated frequency of self-care was associated with decreased STS and burnout, and increased compassion satisfaction. Given the prevalence of STS in child welfare, further exploration of self-care and its potential for strengthening well-being is necessary.

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Exploring the relationships between self-care and well-being outcomes among child welfare professionals

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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