Professional Ideology and Burnout In Social Work: A Dual Mediation Model of Resilience and Social Support

This study examined the impact of professional ideology (Weiss-Gal, 2003; 2007) on burnout (Maslach et al., 2001) among social workers, particularly when mediated by resilience and social support variables. While previous research has explored burnout among social workers, the protective role of professional ideology through these mediating factors remained insufficiently investigated. The research examined these relationships during a period of heightened stress and crisis.

Method: The study involved 434 social workers employed across various public and private organizations in Israel who completed comprehensive online questionnaires. Using correlations and mediation models with path analysis, the research tested hypotheses regarding the relationships between these variables.

Results: Professional ideology, particularly emphasis on social justice principles, was significantly associated with reduced burnout levels. Path analysis revealed two distinct mediation pathways: one operating through resilience (β=0.02, p=0.013) and another through social support (β=0.04, p=0.001). Social workers with stronger commitment to professional ideology demonstrated enhanced resilience and greater access to social support networks, which in turn protected against burnout.

Implications: The findings suggest that organizations should prioritize strengthening professional ideological foundations alongside building resilience and social support systems. The importance of systematic team supervision emerges as critical, highlighting the need for professional development that strengthens ideological commitments. Results underscore the necessity of integrating professional ideology training into social work education curricula, ensuring students develop strong ideological frameworks alongside practical skills.

Conclusions: The research demonstrates that maintaining social worker wellbeing requires strengthening professional ideological foundations, particularly commitment to social justice principles, as a preventive strategy against burnout. Investment in ideological education and systematic supervision should be viewed as essential components of social worker protection strategies, offering valuable insights for sustainable social work practice in challenging professional environments.