Using a Student-Led Support Group to Reduce Stress and Burnout Among BSW Students

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficacy of using a student-led support group to decrease levels of stress and reduce burnout among BSW students. The exploratory mixed-methods study used a 10-item Perceived Stress Scale measuring levels of stress, a single item measuring burnout, and narrative journal entries submitted by students. This was part of a larger study that also explored the efficacy of using a student-led group to increase students' knowledge of group work. Although limited in its scope, this research suggests that student-led group work increases the knowledge process and reduces level of burnout among social work students.

Keywords:

• bachelor of social work (BSW)
• stress
• burnout
• group work
• support group
• social work education

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author would like to thank her colleagues, Janet Zepernick, Lynn Murray, Harriet Bachner, and Harry Humphries for their comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this article.