Burnout and its correlates in South African clinical and counselling psychologists

Abstract

This article explores burnout and its correlates among South African psychologists. A random sample of 238 clinical and counselling psychologists completed internet surveys that included a biographical questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Brief Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced. Results indicated that approximately half of the participants showed moderate to high levels of burnout. Different combinations of coping strategies predicted the three components of burnout. The biographical variables of age, gender, weekly client hours, years in practice, and
medical aid payment difficulties were significant predictors of burnout. Recommendations are made to improve the emotional well-being of South African psychologists.