Let not the world change us: Critical consciousness as a moderator in the relationship between role stress and burnout among social workers in China

Abstract

Critical consciousness, as a core competence of western social workers and a type of personal resource, has been diminished in China. This study examined whether critical consciousness buffered the effect of role stress on burnout with a nationally representative sample. Results showed that critical consciousness prevented emotional exhaustion and depersonalization in social workers suffering from role stress while it did not enable them to perceive personal accomplishment. The results carry implications for maintaining social workers’ workplace well-being and professional pursuits by incorporating critical consciousness into their professional competence and personal resources.