U.S. Military Psychologists' Contemporary Lived Experiences of Burnout

213 Pages·2017·1.29 MB·English

Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
2017
U.S. Military Psychologists' Contemporary Lived
Experiences of Burnout
Rui Heng Babilonia
Walden University
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Walden University

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Rui Heng Babilonia

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Jay Greiner, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty
Dr. James Herndon, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Rachel Piferi, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2017
Abstract
U.S. Military Psychologists’ Contemporary Lived Experiences of Burnout
by
Rui Babilonia

MHA, University of Phoenix, 2009
BS, University of Pittsburgh, 1999

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Health Psychology

Walden University
August 2017
Abstract
Currently, the high level of burnout among military psychologists resulting from
contemporary military service is gaining attention. However, there is insufficient
knowledge of their lived experiences of burnout. The purpose of this phenomenological
study was to explore burnout, based on the military occupational mental health, military
job demand-resources models, and biopsychosocial models. Eleven active duty and prior
service military psychologists were recruited for interviews using snowball sampling.
The first phase of data analysis employed NVivo software. The second and third phase
used the 7-step modified version of the Van Kamm method, resulting in 7 themes and 1
discrepant case. The key findings indicated that the unique nature of military bureaucracy
provided the environment that fostered burnout into a taboo milestone. Furthermore, the
challenging task associated with finding meaning and balance for the ambiguous role of
being a military psychologist also compounded the experiential factors contributing to
burnout. Several shared experiential indications foretelling of burnout were identified.
However, the reality of how military psychologist experienced burnout differed from
textbook knowledge, indicating there is a theory-practice gap in personally diagnosing
burnout progression. Military psychologists also indicated the theory-practice gap
between the available resources for burnout and their limiting utilization practicability.
The results of this study can be used to make a positive social change by better informing
the development of prevention strategies benefiting not only military psychologists but
potentially all military members who routinely describe themselves as burned out.
U.S. Military Psychologists’ Contemporary Lived Experiences of Burnout
by
Rui Babilonia

MA, University of Phoenix, 2009
BS, University of Pittsburgh, 1999

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Health Psychology

Walden University
August 2017
Dedication
I dedicate my dissertation to my mom, dad, Joshua, and Ferdi. I love you with all
of my heart. I love you all. I am grateful to have you all in my life. I know I seem to have
gone through every emotion while writing this dissertation, and you have suffered with
me my highs and lows, and some emotions I cannot even classify. I am sure that not
hearing me complain, or seeing me become ecstatic or deeply depressed or whatever I am
feeling all inside a New York minute because of the dissertation (this word should be as
bad as a four letter word) is welcoming. I cannot wait to see what comes next with all of
you beside me. You all ready? I am laughing because I can imagine the look on your
faces! I am going to stop now. Know that I love you and am dedicated to you with every
cell in my body. I know I can write a lot more because there are no rules here, but I
would write an endlessly rambling mushy novel for what you all mean to me.
I also want to dedicate my dissertation to my best friend, Liz, who passed away
many years ago. You are always with me somewhere over the rainbow.
Finally, I am dedicating my dissertation to Dr. Peter Linnerooth to honor his
mission to take care of uniformed personnel.
Acknowledgments
I know this is my chance to give acknowledgement to all those who have helped
me come to this point in my life, but I feel the word acknowledgment lacks the depth of
how I feel. To my friends, mentors, and professors who stood by my side through rough
days, months, and years, I am indebted to each of you and owe many wholehearted
thanks! To the military psychologists who graciously shared their experiences, your
selfless and continued service is the epitome of what makes a strong defense force. Thank
for your service!
First, to my dearest friend, and newly minted Dr. Michelle Recame-Osborne, you
were there from the start, and I am wowed by your incredible ability to do whatever it is
you put your mind to, but most of all, thank you for being my helping and supportive
friend through this entire wonderful crazy journey. Nadine, I wish we could have met
earlier on this shared but sometimes lonely journey because you have strength I draw
upon when I have doubts and diminished confidence! Ann, how can I thank you for
listening to me complain all those times? You are my friend and counselor.
Second, to the mentors that I was blessed to meet, I am indebted to each of you
for believing, helping, and guiding me. Most notably, to Dr. Conger, Dr. Copper, Dr.
Piferi, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Staal, and Dr. Wilson many thanks!! I apologize for being unable
to list everyone because some mentors were brief blessings who provided no name. To
the numerous other mentors that helped me, you may not remember helping me, but you
did, and I am thankful! You have all shown me the wonderful gift of mentorship and
importance of lending a helping-uplifting hand. I will not forget this valuable lesson and
given the chance I will do my best to do you proud.
To my committee member, Dr. James Herndon, thank you for being patient and
working with me through the many twists and turns that I had to take to write my
dissertation. Your valuable guidance and advice from my first residency with you up to
now has helped me, and I will remember your words as I move forward towards more
goals. Last but not least, to my dissertation chair, Dr. Jay Greiner, I can never say enough
for all you have helped me with not only with my dissertation but in my life. You offered
words of comfort when I was facing pain, words of encouragement when I did not
believe in myself and my ability to conquer my fears, words of assurance and motivation
when I was stagnant, and words of humor when I needed to laugh at myself. Thank you!
There can never be enough I can say, or thanks I can give to all of you. So, as I
move forward in my life postdissertation, I will do my best to show how thankful I am.
To close, I have to extend my most sincere gratitude for the military psychologists
who were unselfishly willing to share their experiences because they wanted to continue
the care they provide to fellow military men and women. I am humbled by your endless
passion and compassion as caretakers. I am mesmerized by your elegant strength to
overcome. Thank you for your service!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1
Introduction ....................................................................................................................1
Background ....................................................................................................................2
Problem Statement .........................................................................................................7
Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................8
Research Questions ........................................................................................................9
Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................9
Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................11
Theoretical Definitions ................................................................................................13
Assumptions .................................................................................................................14
Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................15
Limitations ...................................................................................................................16
Significance of the Study .............................................................................................17
Summary ......................................................................................................................19
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................21
Introduction ..................................................................................................................21
Research Strategy.........................................................................................................21
Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................23
Military Occupational Mental Health and Military Job Demand-Resource
Model ........................................................................................................ 23
Biopsychosocial Model ......................................................................................... 26
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Selection Rationale ............................................................................................... 29
Burnout ........................................................................................................................33
Maslach’s Three Dimensions of Burnout ............................................................. 36
Biological, Psychological, and Sociological Effects of Chronic Stress ................ 37
Additional Psychological Constructs ...........................................................................44
Cynicism ............................................................................................................... 44
Information Overload............................................................................................ 44
Psychological Safety and Trust ............................................................................. 45
Perceived Self-Efficacy ........................................................................................ 47
Work-Family Conflict ........................................................................................... 48
Summary ......................................................................................................................49
Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................51
Introduction ..................................................................................................................51
Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................51
Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................54
Methodology ................................................................................................................55
Participant Selection Logic ................................................................................... 55
Procedures and Data Collection ............................................................................ 56
Data Analysis ........................................................................................................ 59
Issues of Trustworthiness .............................................................................................60
Ethical Procedures .......................................................................................................62
Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................62
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