NCJ Number
131828
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: (1991) Pages: 325-337
Date Published
1991
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Two causal path models were developed to investigate the effect of age on the process of burnout for probation officers in Victoria.
Abstract
Data used in the study were obtained from questionnaires mailed to 187 Community Corrections Officers with a response rate of 57 percent (106 officers). The sample was divided into a younger group of 55 with a mean age of 29 and an older group of 51 with a mean age of 43. The groups differed significantly in levels of emotionality and years of experience. The younger officers reported that higher emotionality and role conflict contributed to increased emotional exhaustion and increased client contact, whereas the older officers felt that emotional exhaustion and lack of personal accomplishment decreased client contact. The importance of the contribution of role ambiguity, role conflict, and lack of participation in decisionmaking was confirmed. These findings indicate that personality together with organizational factors produced burnout in the younger officers, while organizational factors were the primary determinants of burnout in the older officers. The path models presented show that neither emotional exhaustion nor depersonalization accounted for the lack of personal accomplishments. Burnout intervention programs for probation officers need to consider organizational and personal contributors as well as age and career stages of the officers. 1 note and 23 references (Author abstract modified)