Der belastete Sozialarbeiter zwischen Burnout und Sekundärer Traumatisierung

Bachelor thesis from the year 2012 in the subject area of social work, grade: 1.7, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel, language: German.

Abstract: The first part of this thesis deals with burnout. It begins with a definition that considers various professional representatives, such as the psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. After establishing a basic understanding of the concept of burnout, the demands on social workers are briefly outlined to provide insight into stressful situations. The third aspect of this topic describes the burnout process, based on the explanations of the psychotherapist Sabine Fabach.

In the third chapter, a causal analysis is presented from two primarily discussed approaches: the personality-centered approach and the social, occupational, and organizational psychological explanatory approach. The fourth chapter addresses the complex symptoms that can occur during burnout, followed by a discussion of the intervention and prevention measures available to helpers.

The second block focuses on secondary traumatization. As in the previous block, defining the term plays an important role in the introduction. Before that, the emphasis is on the trauma of another person as the triggering instance. In the seventh chapter, the causes of secondary traumatization are examined, noting parallels to the causes of burnout mentioned earlier. Similarities in symptoms are also discussed, but the differences will be highlighted.

Finally, the second theoretical block outlines possible intervention and prevention measures for secondary traumatization. The scientific basis is followed by an interpretation and reference of these problems to a recommendation for action in social work. In summary, all the results of this work are briefly and succinctly reviewed.