Work Engagement as a Protective Factor against Burnout in Addressing Child and Adolescent Maltreatment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22544/rcps.v44i01.07

Keywords:

Child Maltreatment Intervention, Work Engagement, Burnout, Resilience

Abstract

Technical teams addressing maltreatment towards children and adolescents are exposed to realities of violence that can affect their health, involving both protective and risk factors. The study presented three specific aims: 1) To describe burnout in workers addressing maltreatment in childhood and adolescence. 2) To analyze whether there are relationships between the dimensions of burnout and work engagement in these workers. 3) To evaluate if there are significant differences according to work experience in the dimensions of burnout and work engagement. A non-experimental correlational study was carried out. The sample consisted of 32 workers from a program addressing maltreatment in childhood and adolescence. Data was collected regarding the Argentine adaptation of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (Spontón et al., 2012) and the Argentine adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Gilla et al., 2019). The majority, 78.10%, did not present burnout risk, while 18.80% showed burnout risk and 3.10% experienced all three burnout conditions. In turn, the dimensions of work engagement (vigor, dedication and absorption) were negatively correlated with two dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Finally, significantly higher scores were found in personal accomplishment for those with more years of work experience. The study reflects on the protective role of work engagement and work experience, facilitating the resilience process in work contexts addressing child and adolescence maltreatment.

Author Biographies

Adriana Micaela Carrasco, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Mendoza, Argentina

Graduate in Psychology. Her research line is about child maltreatment.

Ana Victoria Márquez Terraza, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Mendoza, Argentina

PhD in Psychology. Her research line is about mental health in older people.

Analía Oggero, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Mendoza, Argentina

Graduate in Psychology, master in Systemic Psychology. Her line of research focuses on adoption processes.

María Paula Moretti, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Graduate in Psychology, specializing in Early Childhood Development. She is a PhD candidate in Psychology. Her research focuses on child abuse and development in alternative institutional and foster care.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Carrasco, A. M., Márquez Terraza, A. V., Oggero, A., & Moretti, M. P. (2025). Work Engagement as a Protective Factor against Burnout in Addressing Child and Adolescent Maltreatment. Costa Rican Journal of Psychology, 44(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.22544/rcps.v44i01.07

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 1 (2025): Psychology and Neuroscience: Contributions and challenges for the multidisciplinary study of human behavior and cognition (January-June 2025, continuous publication)

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