Abstract
M.A. (Social Science)
The work environment in which social workers are fulfilling their duties are today demanding more and more of them. These demands are different from those demands of other professions and is the result of the distinctiveness of the helping professions. Social
workers boast that they are because of their work situation always in a state of emotional exhaustion. To this the literature refers as the burnout syndrome. Articles and research
reports on the topic of burnout appeared in the past on a regular basis and are new articles and reports published regularly. A research study was undertaken to determine what the extent of burnout is in social workers and to determine if there are reason for the widespread claims that they are victims of the burnout syndrome. The aim was also to determine those factors that are involved in causing burnout. A literature study were
undertaken with the aim to describe the burnout syndrome. The literature showed that burnout is a syndrome characteristic of the helping professions. The literature also describes specific elements by which burnout could be recognised. It further gave
some indications of those factors that are instrumental in the development of burnout.
A sample were selected, a questionnaire compiled and distributed with the aim to collect information on the appearance of burnout. The results of the study showed different results. The most important result that was established was the lack of high levels of burnout in the sample. Only a small percentage of the respondents displayed high levels of burnout. The results also indicated that work dissatisfaction, a lack of autonomy, role problems (role conflict and role ambuguity) related to high levels of burnout. A sample were selected, a questionnaire compiled and distributed with the aim to collect information on the appearance of burnout. The results of the study showed different results. The most important result that was established was the lack of high levels of burnout in the sample. Only a small percentage of the respondents displayed high levels of burnout. The results also indicated that workdissatisfaction, a lack of autonomy, role problems (role conflict and roleambuguity) related to high levels of burnout in respondents. The results of the study led to certain recommendations concerning the prevention of burnout in social workers.