Service providers working with persons with intellectual disability: Burnout, coping, self-efficacy, attitudes, and psychological well-being

Over the past 15 years, burnout among service providers working with persons with intellectual disability has become extensively investigated (e.g., Chung, Corbett, & Cumella, 1995; Chung & Harding, 2009; Hastings & Brown, 2002; Innstrand, Espnes, & Mykletun, 2002, 2004; Lawson & O'Brien, 1994; Ito, Kurita, & Shiiya, 1999; Mitchell & Hastings, 2001; Rose, Horne, Rose, & Hastings, 2004; Shaddock, Hill, & Limbeek, 1998). However to date, the relationship of burnout with related variables such as coping and self-efficacy has been minimally explored. Moreover, there is a paucity of empirical investigations of service providers in Asian contexts. The book therefore provides a new insight into the relationship of burnout with coping, self-efficacy, attitudes towards people with disabilities, and psychological well-being by adopting a cross-national comparison across an Australian and Singaporean sample of service providers. This exploration should help shed some light on the emotional and psychological experiences of service providers and should be useful to professionals in the special education field, such as, training, management, and human resource personnel.

Lohsnah Jeevanandam, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, studied at The University of Queensland, Australia. Adjunct Assistant Professor at The National University of Singapore and James Cook University (Singapore campus). Dr Jeevanandam remains active in academia by supervising graduate students and when not tied up with her private practice.