The Effects of the Supervisory Working Alliance on Worker Outcomes

Abstract

This study explored the effects of the supervisory relationship, as conceptualized by Bordin's working alliance, on social service workers' job satisfaction and burnout. Hierarchical linear model analyses of survey results from supervisors (n = 51) and workers (n = 80) in Healthy Families America agencies revealed that the workers' sense of rapport within the supervisory relationship is related to job satisfaction. While it was expected that the supervisory relationship would also relate to levels of burnout, no association was found in the analyses. However, strong negative correlations were found between the workers' feelings of rapport within the supervisory relationship and both emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.

Key Words:

• Supervision
• social service
• burnout
• job satisfaction
• working alliance