Occupational burnout among correctional health workers. Perceived levels of stress and social support.

1. Approximately one third of the sample study fit Maslach's burnout profile, with low personal accomplishment, high depersonalization, and high emotional exhaustion. Perceived stress was a significant predictor of the sense of personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion. 2. Both male and female subjects had low to moderate mean scores on the social support scale. Social support as measured in this study was limited to that received from coworkers and supervisors. 3. The results of this study point to a need for intervention in this setting. Specific interventions for decreasing stress and thus decreasing chances for burnout are discussed. 4. The development of a broad employee health care program is an example of a primary prevention intervention to decrease stress in this setting. Such a program would include instruction in methods of stress reduction and stress management, including exercise and relaxation techniques.