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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Social structure, burnout, and job satisfaction.
1Rhode Island College, School of Social Work, Providence 02908.
Social Work
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Social worker burnout and job satisfaction are significantly impacted by organizational factors. Lack of autonomy and funding sources contribute to burnout, while autonomy and bureaucratization influence job satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Organizational Psychology
Background:
- Burnout and job satisfaction are critical issues in social work.
- Organizational structure is often overlooked as a factor influencing these outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between organizational factors and burnout among social workers.
- To examine the impact of organizational factors on social worker job satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted.
- Data were collected from 275 randomly selected social workers in Massachusetts.
Main Results:
- Perceived lack of autonomy and funding source influence were significant predictors of burnout.
- Perceived autonomy and bureaucratization were significant predictors of job satisfaction.
- Findings challenge assumptions about bureaucratic efficiency and organizational control.
Conclusions:
- Organizational structure plays a crucial role in social worker burnout and job satisfaction.
- Recommendations for policy and practice should consider the impact of organizational design.
- Further research is needed to explore the ideological and social control functions of organizations.
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