The Contribution of School Counselors’ Level of Altruism to Their Degree of Burnout

• In Event: Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Current Trends in School Counseling

Abstract

This investigation tested the hypothesized directional relationship that practicing school counselors reporting higher levels of altruism would have lower levels of burnout. A thorough review of the literature was conducted to empirically support the hypothesized relationship. A correlational research design and structural equation modeling were employed to investigate the research hypothesis. The overall sample for this study is a national sample of 437 practicing school counselors. The results of the study support that school counselors with higher levels of altruism have lower levels of burnout. The findings show two dimensions of altruistic motivation: (1) positive future expectations and (2) self-efficacy contribute significantly to all dimensions of burnout, and a relationship was found between altruism and burnout and self-reported wellness.

Authors

• Dodie Limberg, Texas A&M University - Commerce

• Edward Hamilton Robinson, University of Central Florida

• Glenn Lambie, University of Central Florida

• Jonathan Ohrt, University of North Texas

• Paulina Flasch, University of Central Florida