AFFECTIVE RESPONSES OF HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS TO SELF-MUTILATING ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORS.
Contributors: University of Northern Colorado.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 104
Subjects: Psychology, Clinical.; Health Sciences, Health Care Management.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study investigated the affective responses of nurses and mental health workers to self-mutilating adolescent behaviors in three acute-care areas of a large pediatric hospital. The areas included were the Emergency Department, the Adolescent Medical Unit, and the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. Affective response was the emotional reaction (countertransference) on the part of the health-care provider to the self-harmful behavior of the adolescent. Self-mutilating behavior was defined as being any behavior designed to cause harm to one's self, but without any intent to commit suicide. The sample (N = 79) consisted of nurses and mental health workers from the three areas. Each participant completed a demographic form, read a vignette depicting the behavior of a self-mutilating adolescent, and responded to two questionnaires referring to the material in the vignette. The instruments used were the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Emotional Empathic Tendency Scale.

Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the four groups of care providers in depersonalization and empathy. There was no correlation between age and empathy, and age and depersonalization among the groups of care providers. Level of education, depersonalization and empathy were also not found to be significantly correlated. It was anticipated that those in the mental health field would show higher empathy and a lower degree of depersonalization than those working in the medically acute areas. Means for the various groups showed the opposite to be true.

Significance was found in the remaining areas. Age of the subject was found to be negatively correlated with empathy. Subjects with bachelor's degrees were positively correlated with depersonalization. Mental health workers with psychology degrees also showed higher depersonalization than did mental health workers with degrees in other areas (i.e., education). Significant positive correlation was found between depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. Negative correlation was found between emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-12, Section: B, page: 5560.

Thesis (PSY.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO, 1994.

School code: 0161.