Personality traits and burnout among school mental health professionals

This study examined the relationship among personality traits and professional burnout among school mental health professionals. Participants included 20 Kentucky certified school psychologists and 5 Kentucky certified school counselors. The NEO Personality Inventory Revised (NEO PI-R) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were used in this study to find the specific trait that might reflect burnout risk in this population. It is important to understand the risk factors associated with mental health professional burnout since this population provides services to mental health clients. Consistent with previous research, Neuroticism was statistically associated with burnout. The implications for school psychology and school counselor training programs are discussed.