Behavioral and Self-Report Measures of Staff Burnout in Developmental Disabilities

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Abstract
The potential for burnout among workers in developmental disabilities has been a frequent concern. In the present study, self-reported levels of burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory scores) were correlated with measures of staff activity and commonly cited behavioral effects of burnout. Seventy-nine direct care staff from five facilities serving the developmentally disabled were given the MBI and a brief questionnaire. Data were also collected on absenteeism and tardiness and a time sampling procedure was employed to assess staff activity. Of 102 correlations between the MBI and demographic, self-report, and behavioral measures, only 5 were statistically significant at the .05 level. Of 55 correlations among 11 staff activities, 22 were statistically significant. The activity correlations revealed two distinct patterns. The two activities involving positive direct client contact were negatively correlated with the four activities involving negative client contact or the absence of client contact. Staff who engaged in much negative client contact were also likely to avoid client contact and engage in little positive client contact. Staff exhibiting such behavior patterns would be described as burned out with respect to job performance. Given the limited relationship between self-reports of burnout and staff performance, it would seem prudent to include some direct observation of staff behavior in burnout research.

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