A Comparison of the Effects of Social Support on the Incidence of Burnout

The effective design and implementation of programs aimed at reducing burnout by increasing social support requires information about the relative effects of support from supervisors, from co-workers, and from spouses. The results of this study, a survey of female child welfare workers employed in a state department of social services, suggest that social support, particularly from supervisors and spouses, is associated with low levels of burnout and mental health problems resulting from job stress. Implications of these findings are discussed.