Når arbejdsvilkår udfordrer faglighed og trivsel

Psykisk arbejdsmiljø, forråelse og udbrændthed i socialt arbejde

Abstract

When working conditions challenge professionalism and well-being: Psychosocial work environment, workplace cynicism, and burnout in social work
How are workplace cynicism and burnout related to the psychosocial work environment of social workers? This article examines how social workers experience and respond to workplace cynicism and burnout under demanding working conditions. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007) and Maslach’s burnout model (Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1997), the article analyses qualitative interviews (n=8) and survey data (n=263) from a regional study. The findings indicate that high caseloads, conflicting demands, unclear expectations, and emotional strain increase the risk of both emotional exhaustion and cynical reactions in interactions with citizens. Workplace cynicism is analytically understood as a collective coping strategy closely related to the dimensions of burnout, particularly exhaustion and depersonalisation, and as a work environment issue rather than an individual deviation. The article highlights the need for a shared professional language and organisational preparedness, in which supervision, clear frameworks, and collegial reflection support both well-being and professional integrity in social work.