title: Psychologist burnout: Exploring the causes, consequences, and coping strategies of burnout among public psychologists in New Zealand

authors: Fraser, Alexis

abstract: Burnout is a common experience among professionals working in the public health sector that can negatively impact their personal and professional life (Lu et al., 2020; Salyers et al., 2015; Stone et al., 2021; Zarei et al., 2019). Mental health workers are particularly vulnerable to experiencing burnout due to the demands of high needs clients and the lack of resources (Fischer et al., 2007; Kumar et al., 2011). Although burnout has been widely studied internationally, there are very few studies in New Zealand that have investigated burnout among psychologists. Additionally, the burnout literature has predominantly focused on quantitative reporting of prevalence, with limited qualitative studies hearing from psychologists’ personal experiences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences, implications, and preventative solutions of burnout among psychologists in New Zealand. I recruited 14 registered psychologists working in the public sector to complete one semi-structured interview about the causes, consequences, and protective ways of coping with burnout. I analysed the data using thematic analysis, results showed that systematic issues were the most common cause for burnout in particular high workload and understaffing. Burnout had serious implications for professional’s personal well-being, their professional identity, and their engagement with clients. Social connection and self-care were strong protective factors against burnout; in particular seeking support from managers, supervisors, and colleagues. This research brings attention to systematic issues within the public sector that contribute to burnout and highlights a need for increased awareness and normalisation of burnout within workplaces.

text: Psychologist burnout: Exploring the causes, consequences, and coping strategies of burnout among public psychologists in New Zealand Burnout is a common experience among professionals working in the public health sector that can negatively impact their personal and professional life (Lu et al., 2020; Salyers et al., 2015; Stone et al., 2021; Zarei et al., 2019). Mental health workers are particularly vulnerable to experiencing burnout due to the demands of high needs clients and the lack of resources (Fischer et al., 2007; Kumar et al., 2011). Although burnout has been widely studied internationally, there are very few studies in New Zealand that have investigated burnout among psychologists. Additionally, the burnout literature has predominantly focused on quantitative reporting of prevalence, with limited qualitative studies hearing from psychologists’ personal experiences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences, implications, and preventative solutions of burnout among psychologists in New Zealand. I recruited 14 registered psychologists working in the public sector to complete one semi-structured interview about the causes, consequences, and protective ways of coping with burnout. I analysed the data using thematic analysis, results showed that systematic issues were the most common cause for burnout in particular high workload and understaffing. Burnout had serious implications for professional’s personal well-being, their professional identity, and their engagement with clients. Social connection and self-care were strong protective factors against burnout; in particular seeking support from managers, supervisors, and colleagues. This research brings attention to systematic issues within the public sector that contribute to burnout and highlights a need for increased awareness and normalisation of burnout within workplaces.

year: 2025-01

title: Labourers' letters from Wellington to Surrey, 1840-1845: Lefebvre, Bernstein and pedagogies of appropriation

authors: Middleton, Sue

subjects: letter

abstract: Henri Lefebvre suggested that social researchers engage in 'the concrete analysis of rhythms' in order to reveal the 'pedagogy of appropriation (the appropriation of the body, as of spatial practice)'. Lefebvre's spatial analysis has influenced educational researchers, while the idea of 'pedagogy' has travelled beyond education. This interdisciplinary paper combines Lefebvre's analytical trilogy of perceived, conceived and lived spaces with Bernstein's 'pedagogical device' in an interrogation of historical documents. It engages in a 'rhythm analysis' of the New Zealand Company's 'pedagogical appropriation' of a group of agricultural labourers into its 'systematic colonisation scheme'. The temporal-spatial rhythms of the labourers' lives are accessible in nine surviving letters they wrote in Wellington and sent to Surrey between 1841 and 1844. By revealing how their bodies were 'traversed by rhythms rather as the “ether” is traversed by waves', we gain insight how bodies, space and the self are mutually constitutive and constituted.

text: Labourers' letters from Wellington to Surrey, 1840-1845: Lefebvre, Bernstein and pedagogies of appropriation Henri Lefebvre suggested that social researchers engage in 'the concrete analysis of rhythms' in order to reveal the 'pedagogy of appropriation (the appropriation of the body, as of spatial practice)'. Lefebvre's spatial analysis has influenced educational researchers, while the idea of 'pedagogy' has travelled beyond education. This interdisciplinary paper combines Lefebvre's analytical trilogy of perceived, conceived and lived spaces with Bernstein's 'pedagogical device' in an interrogation of historical documents. It engages in a 'rhythm analysis' of the New Zealand Company's 'pedagogical appropriation' of a group of agricultural labourers into its 'systematic colonisation scheme'. The temporal-spatial rhythms of the labourers' lives are accessible in nine surviving letters they wrote in Wellington and sent to Surrey between 1841 and 1844. By revealing how their bodies were 'traversed by rhythms rather as the “ether” is traversed by waves', we gain insight how bodies, space and the self are mutually constitutive and constituted.

year: 2010

title: Changing patterns of Otitis Media in the Waikato region during the Covid Pandemic

authors: Becker, Andre

subjects: COVID-19 pandemic

abstract: Introduction. Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common condition of children encountered in general practice. A proportion of children develop otitis media with effusion (OME), which may require tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of AOM in Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European children in general practice and the referral practices to secondary care for tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Methods. The study was conducted in two parts: (1) an analysis of the incidence of AOM and OME in a rural Waikato general practice (Ōtorohanga) with a high Māori population over a 2-year period; and (2) an analysis of all referrals to the otorhinolaryngology (ORL) department at Waikato District Health Board and tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion by this service over the same period. Results. The incidence of AOM was similar in Māori compared with NZ European children. The incidence declined significantly between 2019 and 2020 and 50% of children with AOM were treated with antibiotics. Referral rates to the ORL department were greater for Māori compared with NZ European children as were tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion rates. Discussion. Although AOM is common, OME was rarely diagnosed. The clinical guidelines regarding antibiotic use for common conditions are not being readily adopted and further research is needed into this matter. The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial effect on demand both in general practice and in the hospital sector. This may have been due to a reduction in the incidence of AOM or due to system changes caused by the pandemic.

text: Changing patterns of Otitis Media in the Waikato region during the Covid Pandemic Introduction. Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common condition of children encountered in general practice. A proportion of children develop otitis media with effusion (OME), which may require tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of AOM in Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European children in general practice and the referral practices to secondary care for tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion. Methods. The study was conducted in two parts: (1) an analysis of the incidence of AOM and OME in a rural Waikato general practice (Ōtorohanga) with a high Māori population over a 2-year period; and (2) an analysis of all referrals to the otorhinolaryngology (ORL) department at Waikato District Health Board and tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion by this service over the same period. Results. The incidence of AOM was similar in Māori compared with NZ European children. The incidence declined significantly between 2019 and 2020 and 50% of children with AOM were treated with antibiotics. Referral rates to the ORL department were greater for Māori compared with NZ European children as were tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion rates. Discussion. Although AOM is common, OME was rarely diagnosed. The clinical guidelines regarding antibiotic use for common conditions are not being readily adopted and further research is needed into this matter. The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial effect on demand both in general practice and in the hospital sector. This may have been due to a reduction in the incidence of AOM or due to system changes caused by the pandemic.

year: 2023