Is This Really Burnout? Speech and Language Therapists' Perspective

Area of Science:

• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• The World Health Organization defines burnout as chronic workplace stress.
• Speech and language therapists (SLTs) face burnout risks due to demanding work conditions and client interactions.
• Limited research exists on SLT burnout in Türkiye, an emerging field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine burnout levels among SLTs in Türkiye.
• To identify factors contributing to burnout in this profession.

Main Methods:

• A total of 167 SLTs (138 women, 29 men) participated.
• Data collected using a Demographic Form and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• 43.1% of SLTs reported moderate emotional exhaustion; 62.3% low depersonalization; 74.9% low personal accomplishment.
• Burnout levels were significantly influenced by gender, age, education, work setting, experience, income, and job change concerns.
• Workplace location, workdays, session frequency, and commute did not significantly impact burnout.

Conclusions:

• While high burnout is not prevalent, a risk exists for Turkish SLTs.
• Emotional exhaustion is a notable concern, necessitating targeted interventions.
• Raising awareness and implementing preventive measures are crucial for SLT well-being.