Subjective Fatigue Experiences Among Inexperienced Human Service Professionals

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the subjective fatigue experience of inexperienced human service professionals. The Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted for qualitative analysis. The results showed that there were three major categories which encompassed nine categories of fatigue experience. The verbal responses were tabulated indicating two groups: one with high on personal fatigue and the other with high on both personal fatigue and interpersonal group. The results also showed that even among interviewees with similar burnout scale scores, response patterns varied with respect to the major categories of fatigue experience. For example, in the case of Ms. A, many fatigue experiences occurred simultaneously showing conffıcts and similar experiences repeatedly over a long period of time imposing a burden. Understanding the characteristics and fatigue experience patterns of human services professionals could promote appropriate preventative measures and interventions to prevent burnout.