Abstract
Background/Objectives
Direct care workers frequently encounter difficult interactions with the patients
they serve and experience frustration and burnout. The current study tested a hypothesized
model in which predictors of caregiver abuse risk (emotional dysregulation, difficulty
managing patient behavior, and workplace satisfaction) were mediated by symptoms of
burnout.
Design
The study used an online cross-sectional survey design.
Setting and Participants
The study was implemented online via Qualtrics. Participants were 206 direct care
workers (eg, certified nursing assistants, patient care technicians, home health aides,
and medical assistants).
Measurements
All respondents completed the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE), Difficulty with Emotional
Regulation Scale (DERS-SF), and the Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory. Demographic
data and employment history were also collected. Correlational methods, including
path analysis, were used to assess associations between study variables.
Results
More than half of this heterogenous sample endorsed significant risk for engaging
in patient abuse. Path analysis suggested emotional dysregulation and low workplace
satisfaction were associated with greater risk of patient abuse, and these associations
were partially and simultaneously mediated by burnout facets of depersonalization
and emotional exhaustion.
Conclusions and Implications
This study provided preliminary support for a model of caregiver abuse in which underlying
difficulties regulating emotions convey risk for caregiver abuse via burnout facets
including emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Enhancing basic emotion regulation
skills and reducing burnout in direct care staff may reduce the risk of abuse for
older adults. Thus, providing training necessary to help direct care workers manage
their own emotions in order to better recognize, understand, and respond effectively
to the needs of older adults may reduce staff burnout and, consequently, lower the
risk of abuse for older adults.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 02, 2022
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
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July 13, 2022
July 2022 Issue: Psychosocial Issues in Care of Older Persons
Host: Dr. Karl Steinberg. Featuring Dr. Philip Sloane, Dr. Mallory Brown; recorded on July 18, 2022
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