"But Are You Okay?" Exploring Burnout and Help-seeking Behaviors in Resident Assistants

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Genre
Thesis/Dissertation
Date
2020
Author
Laverty, Susan Lynn
Advisor
Davis, James Earl, 1960-
Committee member
DuCette, Joseph P.
Tobin, Renée Margaret
Walinsky, Daniel Saul, 1976-
Department
Educational Leadership
Subject
Education, Higher
Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/3167

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DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/3149
Abstract
The Resident Assistant position is a leadership role available to college students interested in expanding their interpersonal and administrative skills. These students serve as a “first line of defense” for colleges and universities in supporting their peers, managing crises, and identifying students of concern for the institution. While existing literature has clearly identified the personal and professional benefits of the Resident Assistant role, it has also examined the negative impact of the role, specifically the increased likelihood of these students experiencing the phenomenon of burnout. However, there is limited qualitative research available on this subject to give voice to how Resident Assistants make meaning of their burnout experiences and do or do not seek help for these concerns. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of Resident Assistants as they relate to help-seeking behaviors and burnout or compassion fatigue. By exploring these issues, this study will complement existing literature on the lives of Resident Assistants, and also fill a gap associated with the qualitative inquiry needed to fully understand their mental health and stress in the position. The study uses a qualitative research design to examine the stories of eight Resident Assistants who participated in semi-structured interviews. The participants were identified as having a high level of burnout through the use of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. The study takes place at a large urban research institution in the Mid-Atlantic region, which houses approximately 6,000 students in its residence halls. The findings from this study demonstrate that Resident Assistants perceive each other as their strongest support system and share a common belief that unless you've lived the experience, it cannot be understood. Findings also reveal a variety of factors that impact and intensify burnout specifically the feeling of being “always on” or constantly engaged in giving help to others which leads to emotional exhaustion. Finally, Resident Assistants highlighted factors from within Residential Life and within their personal lives that impact their levels of burnout and likelihood to seek support for these issues.
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