SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of Emotional Exhaustion and Self-efficacy on the Psychological Well-Being of Child Care Workers in the Philippines

  • Research In Progress
  • Published:
Psychological Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Child care workers are reported to play a significant role in the healing process of children placed under their care. Although research is emerging in the healthcare industry, including children at risk, this vulnerable group continues to be overlooked as a priority research focus. The limited studies on child care workers often focus on burnout and work-related risks. Some studies highlight the importance of looking at positive factors such as self-efficacy and psychological well-being as critical aspects in understanding the experiences of child care workers. This study examines the associations of emotional exhaustion with psychological well-being and self-efficacy in a sample of 100 Filipino childcare workers. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that there is a significant negative relationship between emotional exhaustion and psychological well-being and a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and psychological well-being. However, self-efficacy does not moderate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and psychological well-being. Findings further highlight the important roles of a perceived negative experience, emotional exhaustion, and a positive trait, self-efficacy, on the psychological well-being of Filipino child care workers. Emotional exhaustion and self-efficacy are impacting psychological well-being independent of each other. The implications of these findings on the kind of interventions that target the psychological well-being of childcare workers are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and material

Not applicable.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

DSWD:

Department of social welfare and development's

FS:

Flourishing scale

GSES:

General self-efficacy scale

MBI:

Maslach burnout inventory

MBI-HSS:

Maslach burnout inventory – human services survey

SDWA:

Social welfare and development agencies

References

  • Andersson, U., Cuervo-Cazurra, A., & Nielsen, B. B. (2014). From the editors: Explaining interaction effects within and across levels of analysis. Journal of International Business Studies, 45, 1063–1071. https://doi.org/10.1057/jibs.2014.50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumgartner, J. J., Carson, R. L., & Apavaloaie, L. (2009). Uncovering common stressful factors and co** strategies among childcare providers. Child and Youth Care Forum, 38, 239–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, R. C., & Hyde, J. S. (2001). Women, men, work, and family. American Psychologist, 56, 781–796. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.10.781

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolino, B., & Thompson, K. (1999). The residential youth care worker in action: A collaborative, competency based approach. Haworth Mental Health Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi, R., Schonfeld, I., & Laurent, E. (2019). Burnout: Moving beyond the status quo. International Journal of Stress Management, 26, 36–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boekhorst, J., Singh, P., & Burke, R. (2017). Work intensity, emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction: The moderating role of psychological detachment. Personnel Review, 46, 891–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boujut, E., Popa-Roch, M., Palomares, E., Deane, A., & Cappe, E. (2017). Self-efficacy and burnout in teachers of students with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders Elsevier Ltd., 36, 8–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2017.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chermiss, C. (1980). Professional burnout in human service organizations: Job stress and the loss of commitment in the noice. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curbow, B., Spratt, K., Ungaretti, A., McDonnell, K., & Breckler, S. (2000). Development of the child care worker job stress inventory. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15(4), 515–536. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0885-2006(01)00068-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darkwah, E., Daniel, M., & Asumeng, M. (2016). Caregiver perceptions of children in their care and motivations for the care work in children’s homes in Ghana: Children of God or children of white men? Children and Youth Services Review, 66, 161–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) (2021). Nationwide Directory of Private Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) with VALID Registration, Registration and License/License to Operate and/or Accreditation issued by DSWD, 2021. Philippines. https://caraga.dswd.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Private-SWDAs-with-valid-RLA-01272021.pdf

  • Duffy, B., Oyebode, J. R., & Allen, F. (2009). Burnout among care staff for older adults with dementia: The role of reciprocity, self-efficacy and organizational factors. SAGE Journals, 8, 515–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301209350285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellett, A. J. (2009). Intentions to remain employed in child welfare: The role of human caring, self-efficacy beliefs, and professional organizational culture. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 78–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2008.07.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner, M., Gerstenblatt, P., Lee, A., Vallejo, V., & Travis, D. (2014). Childcare providers: Work stress and personal well-being. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 14, 280–293. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X14552871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, A., da Costa Ferreira, P., Cooper, C., & Oliveira, D. (2019). How daily negative affect and emotional exhaustion correlates with work engagement and presenteeism-constrained productivity. International Journal of Stress Management, 26, 261–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon, M.-C., Durand-Bush, N., & Young, B. W. (2016). Self-regulation capacity enhances well-being and reduces burnout in physicians and medical students: Implications for nurturing self-help skills. International Journal of Wellbeing, 6, 101–116. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v6i1.425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerstenblatt, P., Faulkner, M., Lee, A., Doan, L. T., & Travis, D. (2013). Not babysitting: Work stress and well-being for family child care providers. Early Childhood Educ J, 42, 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0571-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goren, S., & Thieband, C. (1980). Professional burnout. CEC, Chapterpact, Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, S.F., & Valletulli, P.J. (1980). Stress and the hel** profession. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hone, L. C., Jarden, A., Schofield, G. M., & Duncan, S. (2014). Measuring flourishing: The impact of operational definitions on the prevalence of high levels of wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 4(1), 62–90. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v4i1.4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M., & Waterman, M. B. (2003). Dimensions of well-being and mental health in adulthood. In M. H. Bornstein, L. Davidson, C. L. M. Keyes, & K. A. Moore (Eds.), Well-being: Positive development across the life course (pp. 477–497). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Khamisa, N., Oldenburg, B., Peltzer, K., & Ilic, D. (2015). Work related stress, burnout, job satisfaction and general health of nurses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12, 652–666. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100652

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • la Fuente-Solana, D., Emilia, I., Pradas-Hernández, L., González-Fernández, C., Velando-Soriano, A., Martos-Cabrera, M., & Gómez-Urquiza, J. (2021). Burnout syndrome in paediatric nurses: A multi-mentre study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 1324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lizano, E. L. (2015). Examining the impact of job burnout on the health and well-being of human service workers: A systematic review and synthesis. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 39, 167–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2015.1014122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie, C. S., & Peragine, G. (2003). Measuring and enhancing self-efficacy among professional caregivers of individuals with dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, 18, 291–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/153331750301800507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C. (1982). Burnout: The cost of caring. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., Jackson, S., & Leiter, M. (1997). The maslach burnout inventory manual. Evaluating Stress: A Book of Resources., 3, 191–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C. & Jackson, S. (1981). MBI-Human services survey. Mind Garden, Inc.

  • Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., & Leiter, P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15, 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mohd Noor, N., Che Yusof, R., & Yacob, M. (2021). Anxiety in frontline and non-frontline healthcare providers in Kelantan, Malaysia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moses, T. (2000). Why people choose to be residential child care workers. Human Sciences Press, Inc., 29, pp. 113–125.

  • Näring, G., Vlerick, P., & de Ven, B. V. (2012). Emotion work and emotional exhaustion in teachers: The job and individual perspective. Educational Studies, 38, 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2011.567026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pickrem, C. (2015). Residential child & youth care workers’ perspectives of job stress and knowledge of interventions (master’s thesis). Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

  • Romppel, M., Herrmann-Lingen, C., Wachter, R., Edelmann, F., Düngen, H.-D., Pieske, B., & Grande, G. (2013). A short form of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-6): Development, psychometric properties and validity in an intercultural non-clinical sample and a sample of patients at risk for heart failure. GMS Psycho-Social-Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3205/psm000091

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Salanova, M., Peiro, J. M., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2002). Self-efficacy specificity and burnout among information technology workers: An extension of the job demand–control model. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 11, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594320143000735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S. & Mansi (2009). Psychological capital as predictor of psychological well being. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 35, 233–238.

  • Schwarzer, R. (1999). General perceived self-efficacy in 14 cultures. Self-Efficacy assessment, Retrieved from http://www.yorku.ca/academics/schwarze/selfscal.htm

  • Seti, C. L. (2008). Causes and treatment of burnout in residential child care workers: A review of the research. Journal Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 24, 197–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/08865710802111972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stremmel, A., Benson, M. J., & Powell, D. R. (1993). Communication, satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion among child care center staff: Directors, teachers, and assistant teachers. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 8, 221–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shoji, K., Cieslak, R., Smoktunowicz, E., Rogala, A., Benight, C. C., & Luszczynska, A. (2015). Associations between job burnout and self-efficacy: A meta-analysis. Anxiety, Stress & Co**: An International Journal, 29, 367–386. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2015.1058369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuithof, M., Have, M., Beekman, A., Dorsselaer, S., Kleinjan, M., Schauefeli, W., & Graaf, R. (2017). The interplay between emotional exhaustion, common mental disorders, functioning and health care use in the working population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 100, 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.06.018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Liu, H., Yu, H., Wu, Y., Chang, S., & Wang, L. (2017). Associations between occupational stress, burnout and well-being among manufacturing workers: Mediating roles of psychological capital and self-esteem. BMC Psychiatry, 17, 364. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1533-6

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, H., Whittington, R., Perry, L., & Eames, C. (2017). Examining the relationship between burnout and empathy in healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Burnout Research, 6, 18–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burn.2017.06.003

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wissel, A. (2013). Working in residential childcare: What are the challenges and the rewards? (master’s thesis). Miami University.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

No funding was received in the completion of the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

    Kimberly Kaye C. Mata & Maria Caridad H. Tarroja

Authors
  1. Kimberly Kaye C. Mata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MK was the lead researcher. She conceptualized, gathered, and analyzed the data. Meanwhile, TMC helped in the conceptualization of the study, research design, and analysis of findings. Both authors contributed to writing the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kimberly Kaye C. Mata.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors had no conflict of interest.

Ethical Statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by De La Salle University Manila’s Department of Psychology faculty members. The residential care centers’ management and the participants were assured that the study is not an evaluation nor an appraisal of their performance. Confidentiality concepts were also discussed in detail. The participants were oriented that the instruments used may trigger different feelings among them (some may be threatening) and were given a choice to stop participating in the study at any stage. A written informed consent form was secured for child care workers to participate in this study.

Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mata, K.K.C., Tarroja, M.C.H. Impact of Emotional Exhaustion and Self-efficacy on the Psychological Well-Being of Child Care Workers in the Philippines. Psychol Stud 67, 352–361 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00662-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00662-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation