Research, Resources, and Reflections on the Benefits of Support Groups to Address Challenges Related to Wellness and Burnout

While there are few resources and scholarly works on support groups to benefit teachers specifically, a more substantive body of work has focused on addressing burnout among nurses and social workers.

Moderating effect of social support on the stress–burnout relationship
Etzion, Daniel (1984).
Journal of Applied Psychology, 69(4), 615–622.
Empirical study. Study on the mitigating effects of social support on work- and life-related stresses and symptoms of burnout.

Support groups: A special therapeutic entity
Rosenberg, Pearl P. (1984).
Small Group Behavior, 15(2), 173–186.
Theory. Develops a theoretical base for differentiating the support group from the therapy and self-help groups.

Teacher support groups serve to minimize teacher burnout: Principles for organizing.
Kirk, William and Walter, Glen (1981).
Education,102(2), 147-150.
Research review. Discusses the support group structure as a potentially effective tool to help teachers address symptoms of burnout linked to professional isolation and loneliness.

Teacher SEL Space: Addressing beginning teachers’ social emotional learning in a support group structure
Martin, Peter C. (2024).
Current Issues in Education, 24(3).
Empirical study. Examines the structure and benefits of a pilot project where current candidates and recent graduates in a teacher preparation program came together in an ongoing support group structure to promote their social emotional learning.

Fostering empowerment in online support groups
Barak, A., Boniel-Nissim, M. and Suler, J. (2008).
Computers in Human Behavior, 24(5), 1867-1883.
Research review.  Reviews data on online support groups to highlight the benefits they can provide in terms of participants’ sense of control, self-confidence, independence, and generally a sense of empowerment.

An RCT of coping and support groups to reduce burnout among nurses
Günüşen, Neslihan P. and Ustün Besti (2010).
International Nursing Review, 57(4), 485-92.
Empirical study. Study examining the effects of support group interventions to address burnout among nurses, finding potential benefits to build on.

Fostering psychosocial wellness in oncology nurses: Addressing burnout and social support in the workplace
Medland, J., Howard-Ruben, J., & Whitaker, E.D. (2004).
Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(1), 47-54 .
Research review. Reviews a variety of research data to make the argument that providing adequate work-related social support can help address burnout among oncology nurses.

Reflecting peer-support groups in the prevention of stress and burnout: randomized controlled trial
Peterson, U., Bergström, G., Samuelsson, M., Asberg, M. and Nygren, A. (2008).
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 63(5), 506-16.
Empirical study. Examines the impact of participation in a peer-support group of nurses on their general wellbeing and as a means to address symptoms of burnout.

An online stress management support group for social workers
Meier, Andrea (2002).
Journal of Technology in Human Services,20(1–2), 107–132.
Empirical study. Examines the impacts of an online support group for social workers on their sense of wellness and ability to overcome work-related stress.

Role stressors, burnout, mediators, and job satisfaction: A stress-strain-outcome model and an empirical test
Um, Myung-Yong and Harrison, Dianne F. (2022).
Social Work Research, 22(2),100–115
Empirical study. Examines findings that role conflict among social workers exacerbates symptoms of burnout and that social support can serve as a moderating factor.

Wellness at universities: A group art therapy approach
Sonnone, Ashley and Rochford, Jessie S. (2020).
Journal of College Counseling, 23(2), 168-179
Description of practice. Describes and discusses the benefits of art therapy process groups to help address mental heallth challenges among university students.

If you know of additional resources you think ought to be featured on these pages, feel free to contact pmartin@ithaca.edu