Promoting satisfaction and reducing fatigue: Understanding the impact of trauma-informed organizational culture on psychological wellness among DSPs

Background Organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are challenged with maintaining a viable workforce of direct support professionals (DSPs). Amid multiple factors, organizational culture based on trauma-informed care may promote DSP retention through increased satisfaction and decreased fatigue. Method An online survey was used to gather data from DSPs (n = 380) across seven agencies and two online social media groups. Data were analysed using stepwise regression to identify the relationship between trauma-informed organizational culture and professional quality of life (i.e., satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress). Results Trauma-informed organizational culture was associated with increased DSP psychological wellness. Regression models explained 7.3%-40.5% of the variance in professional quality of life. Conclusions Although trauma-informed initiatives have lagged in IDD services, this study provides preliminary evidence to bolster its justification, highlighting it as a possible partial response to the current workforce challenges.