School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Stress and Burnout: A Cross-Sectional Survey at the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 2023

Leesa Marante, and Shannon Hall-Mills, and Kelly Farquharson
School of Communication Science and Disorders, Florida State University, Tallahassee.

Low retention of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is a growing problem that can have drastic consequences at the school and student levels. Factors contributing to this shortage include features of the work environment, role ambiguity, low salaries, and a demanding workload with higher caseloads, which can result in limited time for paperwork and lesson planning for optimal service delivery models. The purpose of this study was to determine the current levels and predictors of occupational stress and burnout SLPs are experiencing in the school setting. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 453 school-based SLPs from across the United States reported their workload manageability, career intentions, access to social support, and their stress and burnout levels. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the relation between the variables of interest and the occupational stress and burnout scores. Data were collected in September to December of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. SLPs, on average, reported overall stress levels in the somewhat noticeable range, moderate access to social support, high levels of emotional exhaustion, low-to-moderate feelings of depersonalization, and moderate-to-high feelings of personal accomplishments. Based on a standardized burnout scale, SLPs in this sample are characterized as feeling ineffective and overextended. Results of linear regression models suggest that the perception of work manageability was the best predictor of Total Stress score, Emotional Exhaustion score, and Depersonalization score, in this sample. Data from this study offer the beginning steps to making an informed change for school-based SLPs' workplaces. Results indicated that SLPs in the school setting are feeling ineffective and overextended. The perception of their workload manageability was the most significant predictor for their reported stress and burnout levels. Suggestions for SLP supervisors, administrators, and other stakeholders are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003147 Communication Disorders Disorders of verbal and nonverbal communication caused by receptive or expressive LANGUAGE DISORDERS, cognitive dysfunction (e.g., MENTAL RETARDATION), psychiatric conditions, and HEARING DISORDERS. Acquired Communication Disorders,Childhood Communication Disorders,Communication Disabilities,Communication Disorders, Childhood,Communication Disorders, Developmental,Communication Disorders, Neurogenic,Communicative Disorders,Communicative Dysfunction,Developmental Communication Disorders,Neurogenic Communication Disorders,Acquired Communication Disorder,Childhood Communication Disorder,Communication Disability,Communication Disorder,Communication Disorder, Acquired,Communication Disorder, Childhood,Communication Disorder, Developmental,Communication Disorder, Neurogenic,Communication Disorders, Acquired,Communicative Disorder,Communicative Dysfunctions,Developmental Communication Disorder,Disabilities, Communication,Disability, Communication,Dysfunction, Communicative,Dysfunctions, Communicative,Neurogenic Communication Disorder
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072142 Pathologists Physicians who assess changes in cellular or tissue structure and function to diagnose disease processes. Pathologist
D000073397 Occupational Stress Adverse psychological and behavioral reactions caused by the pressures and demands of employers or clients or other factors, such as the physical environment of the workplace, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE; or WORKPLACE BULLYING. Job Control,Job Demands,Work Stress,Workplace Abuse,Job Stress,Job-related Stress,Professional Stress,Work Place Stress,Work-related Stress,Workplace Bullying,Workplace Stress,Abuse, Workplace,Bullying, Workplace,Demand, Job,Job Demand,Job Stresses,Job related Stress,Job-related Stresses,Occupational Stresses,Professional Stresses,Stress, Job,Stress, Job-related,Stress, Occupational,Stress, Professional,Stress, Work,Stress, Work Place,Stress, Work-related,Stress, Workplace,Stresses, Workplace,Work Place Stresses,Work Stresses,Work related Stress,Work-related Stresses,Workplace Abuses,Workplace Stresses
D000077062 Burnout, Psychological An excessive reaction to stress caused by one's environment that may be characterized by feelings of emotional and physical exhaustion, coupled with a sense of frustration and failure. Burn-out,Burn-out Syndrome,Burnout,Burnout Syndrome,Burnout, School,Burnout, Student,Psychological Burn-out,School Burnout,Student Burnout,Burn out,Burn out Syndrome,Burn-out, Psychological,Psychological Burn out,Psychological Burnout
D000086382 COVID-19 A viral disorder generally characterized by high FEVER; COUGH; DYSPNEA; CHILLS; PERSISTENT TREMOR; MUSCLE PAIN; HEADACHE; SORE THROAT; a new loss of taste and/or smell (see AGEUSIA and ANOSMIA) and other symptoms of a VIRAL PNEUMONIA. In severe cases, a myriad of coagulopathy associated symptoms often correlating with COVID-19 severity is seen (e.g., BLOOD COAGULATION; THROMBOSIS; ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME; SEIZURES; HEART ATTACK; STROKE; multiple CEREBRAL INFARCTIONS; KIDNEY FAILURE; catastrophic ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME and/or DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION). In younger patients, rare inflammatory syndromes are sometimes associated with COVID-19 (e.g., atypical KAWASAKI SYNDROME; TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME; pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease; and CYTOKINE STORM SYNDROME). A coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in the genus BETACORONAVIRUS is the causative agent. 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease,2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection,2019-nCoV Disease,2019-nCoV Infection,COVID-19 Pandemic,COVID-19 Pandemics,COVID-19 Virus Disease,COVID-19 Virus Infection,Coronavirus Disease 2019,Coronavirus Disease-19,SARS Coronavirus 2 Infection,SARS-CoV-2 Infection,Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection,COVID19,2019 nCoV Disease,2019 nCoV Infection,2019-nCoV Diseases,2019-nCoV Infections,COVID 19,COVID 19 Pandemic,COVID 19 Virus Disease,COVID 19 Virus Infection,COVID-19 Virus Diseases,COVID-19 Virus Infections,Coronavirus Disease 19,Disease 2019, Coronavirus,Disease, 2019-nCoV,Disease, COVID-19 Virus,Infection, 2019-nCoV,Infection, COVID-19 Virus,Infection, SARS-CoV-2,Pandemic, COVID-19,SARS CoV 2 Infection,SARS-CoV-2 Infections,Virus Disease, COVID-19,Virus Infection, COVID-19
D013060 Speech Communication through a system of conventional vocal symbols. Public Speaking,Speaking, Public
D013066 Speech-Language Pathology The study of speech or language disorders and their diagnosis and correction. Language Pathology,Speech Pathology,Pathology, Language,Pathology, Speech,Pathology, Speech-Language,Pathology, Speech Language,Speech Language Pathology

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