The Relationship Between Supervisory Relationship, Coping Mechanisms and Burnout Among Trainee Counsellors
Loading...
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
Abstract
Description
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between supervisory relationship, coping mechanisms, and burnout among trainee counsellors. The study sample consisted of 120 trainee counsellors, comprising fourth-year counselling students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The sample for this study was selected using a stratified random sampling method. The research design employed was a correlational study, utilizing a quantitative research approach. Three instruments were used in this study which are The Short Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire (S-SRQ), Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE), and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The Short Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire (S-SRQ) was used to examine the quality of the relationship between trainee counsellor and their supervisors from the trainee counsellor perspective. The Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief- COPE) was used to investigate coping strategies employed by trainee counsellors when facing stress or challenges during training, practicum, or supervision. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the level of burnout among trainee counsellors. The findings of this study were analyzed using Spearman’s Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient (Spearman’s Rho) and Bootstraps Multiple Linear Regression. The study findings revealed a significant relationship between supervisory relationship, its subscales (safe base, reflective education, and structure), coping mechanisms, and burnout among trainee counsellors, specifically, (safe base and coping mechanisms: rs = .545, p < .001; reflective education and coping mechanisms: rs = .797, p < .001; structure and coping mechanisms: rs = .616, p < .001; safe base and burnout: rs = .893, p < .001; reflective education and burnout: rs = .783, p < .001; structure and burnout: rs = .696, p < .001). Safe Base emerged as a significant positive predictor, with a bootstrap coefficient B = 0.390 (SE = 0.089, p = .008), and a 95% bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) confidence interval between [0.228, 0.567]. Reflective Education also showed a xiii significant positive predictive relationship with coping mechanisms (B = 0.516, SE = 0.145, p = .008), with a 95% BCa confidence interval between [0.219, 0.834]. The Structure subscale did not significantly predict coping mechanisms (B = –0.385, SE = 0.296, p = .215, 95% BCa CI [–1.062, 0.171]). These findings highlight the importance of supportive and reflective supervision in fostering adaptive coping, while also indicating the need for further research to identify and understand additional predictors of burnout in this population. The implications of this study are twofold which are theoretical implications and practical implications. For theoretical implications, the findings directly challenge existing theoretical frameworks, such as Marina Palomo's Bi-Directional Model of Supervisory Relationship, which typically portrays a strong supervisory relationship as a direct protective factor against burnout. The results of this study suggest a more complex dynamic, where an increase in the quality of this relationship is also associated with an increase in reported burnout levels. As for practical implications, the findings highlight important areas for intervention and focus within the context of supervision. Therefore, for future studies, this research can be improved by (i) conducting longitudinal studies, (ii) integrating qualitative research methodologies, (iii) conducting in-depth interviews, and (iv) facilitating focus group discussions with trainee counsellors.