Attachment Representations and Burnout of Social Workers

This paper examines the distribution of attachment representations among social work professionals using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP; George, West, Pettem, 1997). In this sample, the influence of attachment on the occurrence of burnout syndrome is investigated, as this is considered as a trigger for further mental and physical illnesses. For this purpose, 79 social pedagogical professionals from the German-speaking part of Switzerland were examined over four time points using the Burnout Screening Scales - BOSS. The following distribution of attachment representations was found using the AAP: 25.3 % secure, 38.0 % insecure dismissing, 27.8 % insecure preoccupied, and 8.9 % unresolved trauma. This distribution differs significantly from other samples of non-clinical adults and psychotherapists. Interestingly, no general associations emerged between insecure attachment representations and burnout. A significant positive correlation was shown between "unresolved trauma" and the suspected diagnosis of "burnout occupation". The so far few but contradictory empirical findings on attachment representations among professionals require further research activities as well as an intensive sensitization with regard to attachment theory in basic and further training courses and a further establishment of self-awareness and supervision components in all psychosocial fields of work.