Sign language interpreters and burnout: The effects of perfectionism, perceived stress, and coping resources:

Schwenke, Tomina J; Ashby, Jeffrey S.; Gnilka, Philip B

doi:10.1075/intp.16.2.04sch

Article published In:

Interpreting
Vol. 16:2 (2014) ► pp.209–232

Sign language interpreters and burnout

The effects of perfectionism, perceived stress, and coping resources

Tomina J Schwenke | Georgia State University

Jeffrey S. Ashby | DePaul University

Philip B Gnilka

The multidimensional construct of perfectionism is well studied as it relates to coping with stress and burnout (Childs & Stoeber 2012; Flett & Hewitt 2002). Bontempo and Napier (2011) identify the personality trait of conscientiousness, which includes perfectionistic traits, as beneficial to an interpreter’s job performance. In contrast, several studies suggest that constructs related to maladaptive perfectionistic traits play a role in the development of burnout among interpreters, although perfectionism has not been explicitly identified or used as a research variable (Qin et al. 2008). These studies identify key components of both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism in the assessment of stress-related outcomes, thereby laying the groundwork for a more focused study on the particular role of perfectionism among interpreters who experience burnout. The current study evaluated the relationship between perfectionism, perceived stress, coping resources and burnout in a sample of sign language interpreters. The results provided support for the mediating role of perceived stress in the association of maladaptive perfectionism and burnout within the sample. Coping resources did not serve as a moderator between perfectionism variables and burnout, or as a moderated mediator between perfectionism variables and perceived stress. The implications of these findings for sign language interpreters are discussed.

Keywords: stress, sign language interpreters, coping resources, perfectionism, burnout

Published online: 22 September 2014

https://doi.org/10.1075/intp.16.2.04sch

References

Aiken, L.S. & West, S.G

(1991) Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Ashby, J., Dickinson, W., Gnilka, P. & Noble, C

(2011) Hope as a mediator and moderator of multidimensional perfectionism and depression in middle school students. Journal of Counseling & Development 891, 131–139.

Ashby, J., Noble, C. & Gnilka, P

(2012) Multidimensional perfectionism, depression, and satisfaction with life: Differences among perfectionists and tests of a stress-mediation model. Journal of College Counseling 151, 130–143.

Ashby, J.S. & Rice, K.G

(2002) Perfectionism, dysfunctional attitudes, and self-esteem: A structural equations analysis. Journal of Counseling & Development 80 (2), 197–203.

Ashby, J.S., Rice, K.G. & Martin, J.L

(2006) Perfectionism, shame, and depressive symptoms. Journal of Counseling & Development 841, 148–156.

Baker, L.M., O’Brien, K.M. & Salahuddin, N.M

(2007) Are shelter workers burned out?: An examination of stress, social support, and coping. Journal of Family Violence 221, 465–474. Doi:

Baron, R.M. & Kenny, D.A

(1986) The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 511, 1173–1182.Doi:

Bolger, N. & Zuckerman, A

(1995) A framework for studying personality in the stress process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 691, 890–902.

Bontempo, K. & Napier, J

(2011) Evaluating emotional stability as a predictor of interpreter competence and aptitude for interpreting. Interpreting 13 (1), 85–105. Doi:

Branam, L

(1991) Burnout in the interpreting profession. Unpublished manuscript.

Chang, E

(2000) Perfectionism as a predictor of positive and negative psychological outcomes: Examining a mediation model in younger and older adults. Journal of Counseling Psychology 471, 18–26.

Chen, L.H., Kee, Y.K. & Tsaim, Y

(2008) An examination of the dual model of perfectionism and adolescent athlete burnout: A short-term longitudinal research. Social Indicators Research 911, 189–201. Doi:

Childs, J. & Stoeber, J

(2012) Do you want me to be perfect? Two longitudinal studies on socially prescribed perfectionism, stress and burnout in the workplace. Work & Stress: An International Journal of Work, Health & Organisations 261, 347–364.

Cohen, S., Kamarck, T. & Mermelstein, R

(1983) A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 241, 385–396. Doi:

Cordes, C. & Dougherty, T

(1993) A review and an integration of research on job burnout. Academy of Management Review 181, 621–65.

Dean, R. & Pollard, R

(2001) Application of demand-control theory to sign language interpreting: Implications for stress and interpreter training. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 61, 1–13.

Delisle, A., Lariviere, C., Imbeau, D. & Durand, M

(2005) Physical exposure of sign language interpreters baseline measures and reliability analysis. European Journal of Applied Physiology 941, 448–460.

Demerouti, E., Bakker, A.B., Nachreiner, F. & Schaufeli, W.B

(2001) The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology 86 (2), 499–512. Doi:

D’Souza, F., Egan, S.J. & Rees, C.S

(2011) The relationship between perfectionism, stress and burnout in clinical psychologists. Behaviour Change 281, 17–28.

Dunkley, D.M., Blankstein, K.R., Zuroff, D.C., Lecce, S. & Hui, D

(2006) Self-critical and personal standards factors of perfectionism located within the five-factor model of personality. Personality and Individual Differences 401, 409–420.

Dunkley, D., Sanislow, C., Grilo, C. & McGlashan, T

(2006) Perfectionism and depressive symptoms 3 years later: Negative social interactions, avoidant coping, and perceived social support as mediators. Comprehensive Psychiatry 471, 106–115. Doi:

Dunkley, D., Zuroff, D. & Blankstein, K

(2006) Specific perfectionism components versus self-criticism in predicting maladjustment. Personality & Individual Differences 401, 665–676.

(2003) Self-critical perfectionism and daily affect: Dispositional and situational influences on stress and coping. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 841, 234–252.

Flett, G.L. & Hewitt, P.L

(2002) Perfectionism and maladjustment: an overview of theoretical, definitional, and treatment issues. In P.L. Hewitt & G.L. Flett (Eds.), PerfectionismPerfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment.Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 5–31.

(2005) The perils of perfectionism in sports and exercise. Current Directions in Psychological Science 141, 14–18.

Flett, J.R., Hewitt, P.L. & Dyck, D.G

(1989) Self-oriented perfectionism and learned resourcefulness in depression and self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences 121, 61–68.

Frost, R.O., Benton, N. & Dowrick, P.W

(1990) Self-evaluations, videotape and dysphria. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 91, 367–374.

Gnilka, P., Ashby, J. & Noble, C

(2013) Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism as mediators of adult attachment styles and depression, hopelessness, and life satisfaction. Journal of Counseling & Development 911, 78–86.

(2012) Multidimensional perfectionism and anxiety: Difference among individuals with perfectionism and tests of a coping-mediation model. Journal of Counseling & Development 901, 427–436.

Grosch, W.N. & Olsen, D.C

(2000) Clergy burnout: An integrative approach. Journal of Clinical Psychology 561, 619–632.

Hamachek, D.E

(1978) Psychodynamics of normal and neurotic perfectionism. Psychology 151, 27–33.

Heller, B., Stansfield, M., Stark, G. & Langholtz, D

(1986) Sign language interpreter stress: An exploratory study. In Proceedings of the 1985 Convention of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association. Little Rock, AK: ADARA.

Houkes, I., Winants, Y.H. & Twellaar, M

(2008) Specific determinants of burnout among male and female general practitioners: A cross-lagged panel analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 811, 249–276. Doi:

Lazarus, R.S. & Folkman, S

(1984) Stress, appraisal and coping. New York, NY: Springer.

Koeske, G.F. & Koeske, R.D

(1993) A preliminary test of a Stress-Strain-Outcome Model for reconceptualizing the burnout phenomenon. Journal of Social Service Research 171, 107–135. Doi:

Maslach, C. & Jackson, S.E

(1996) Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). In C. Maslach, S.E. Jackson & M.P. Leiter (Eds.), MBI Manual (3rd edition).Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, 192–218.

Maslach, C. & Leiter, M.P

(1997, 2008) The truth about burnout: How organizations cause personal stress and what to do about it (2nd edition). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Matheny, K.B., Aycock, D.W., Curlette, W.K. & Junker, G.N

(2003) The Coping Resources Inventory for Stress: A measure of perceived resourcefulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology 591, 1261–1277.

Matheny, K.B. & Curlette, W.L

(2010) A brief measure of coping resources. The Journal of Individual Psychology 661, 384–407.

Matheny, K.B., Curlette, W.L., Aycock, D.W., Pugh, J.L. & Taylor, H.F

(1987) The Coping Resources Inventory for Stress. Atlanta, GA: Health Prisms.

Mitchelson, J.K. & Burns, L.R

(1998) Career mothers and perfectionism: Stress at work and at home. Personality and Individual Differences 251, 477–485. Doi:

Muller, D., Judd, C.M. & Yzerbyt, V.Y

(2005) When moderation is mediated and mediation is moderated. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 891, 852–863. Doi:

Nettles, C

(2010) What have we done for you lately? The RID annual report to the members. Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Views 271, 50–71.

Preacher, K.J. & Hayes, A.F

(2004) SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments & Computers 361, 717–731.

(2008) Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods 401, 879–891. Doi:

Preacher, K.J., Rucker, D.D. & Hayes, A.F

(2007) Assessing moderated mediation hypotheses: Theory, methods, and prescriptions. Multivariate Behavioral Research 421, 185–227.

Qin, J., Marshall, M., Mozrall, J. & Marschark, M

(2008) Effects of pace and stress on upper extremity kinematic responses in sign language interpreters. Ergonomics 511, 274–289. Doi:

Reilly, N.P

(1994) Exploring a paradox: Commitment as a moderator of the Stressor-Burnout relationship. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 24 (5), 397–414.

Rice, K.G. & Ashby, J.S

(2007) An efficient method for classifying perfectionists. Journal of Counseling Psychology 541, 72–85. Doi:

Rice, K.G., Leever, B.A., Christopher, J. & Porter, D.J

(2006) Perfectionism, stress, and social (dis)connection: A short-term study of hopelessness, depression, and academic adjustment among honors students. Journal of Counseling Psychology 531, 524–534.

Rice, K.G. & Slaney, R

(2002) Clusters of perfectionists: Two studies of emotional adjustment and academic achievement. Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development 351, 35–48.

Rice, K.G., Tucker, C.M. & Desmond, F

(2008) Perfectionism and depression among low-income chronically ill African American and White adolescents and their maternal parent. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 151, 171–181. Doi:

Roziner, I. & Shlesinger, M

(2010) Much ado about something remote. Interpreting 12 (2), 214–247. Doi:

Schaufeli, W.B., Bakker, A.B., Hoogduin, K., Schaap, C. & Kladler, A

(2001) On the clinical validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Burnout Measure. Psychology & Health 161, 565–582.

Seal, B.C

(2004) Psychological testing of sign language. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 91, 39–52. Doi:

Shlesinger, M. & Pöchhacker, F

(2011) Aptitude for interpreting. Interpreting 13 (1),1–4. Doi:

Slaney, R.B., Rice, K.G., Mobley, M., Trippi, J. & Ashby, J.S

(2001) The Revised Almost Perfect Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development 34 (3), 130–145.

Sobel, M.E

(1982) Asymptotic confidence intervals for indirect effects in structural equation models. In S. Leinhardt (Ed.), Sociological methodology 1982, Washington, DC: American Sociological Association, 290–312.

Stoeber, J. & Otto, K

(2006) Positive conceptions of perfectionism: Approaches, evidence, challenge. Personality and Social Psychology Review 101, 295–319. Doi:

Stoeber, J. & Rennert, D

(2008) Perfectionism in schoolteachers: Relations with stress appraisal, coping styles, and burnout. Anxiety, Stress & Coping 21 (1), 37–53. Doi:

Swartz, D.B

(1999). Job satisfaction of interpreters for the deaf. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Minneapolis,Capella University.

Tashman, L.S., Tenenbaum, G. & Eklund, R

(2010) The effect of perceived stress on the relationship between perfectionism and burnout in coaches. Anxiety, Stress & Coping 231, 195–212. Doi:

Ulu, I.P. & Tezer, E

(2010) Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, adult attachment, and Big Five Personality Traits. The Journal of Psychology 144 (4), 327–340.

Wang, K.T., Yuen, M. & Slaney, R.B

(2009) Perfectionism, depression, and life satisfaction: A study of high school students in Hong Kong. The Counseling Psychologist 371, 249–274. Doi:

Watson, J

(1987) Interpreter burnout. Journal of Interpretation 41, 79–85.

Wheeler, D.L., Vassar, M., Worley, J.A. & Barnes, L.L

(2011) A reliability generalization meta-analysis of coefficient alpha for the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Educational and Psychological Measurement 711, 231–244.

Cited by

Cited by 10 other publications

Order by:

Abdel Latif, Muhammad M. M.

2018. Towards a typology of pedagogy-oriented translation and interpreting research. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 12:3 ► pp. 322 ff.

Abdel Latif, Muhammad M. M.

2020. Researching Professional Translator/Interpreter Experiences and Roles. In Translator and Interpreter Education Research [New Frontiers in Translation Studies, ], ► pp. 125 ff.

Fye, Heather J., Philip B. Gnilka & Sarah E. McLaulin

2018. Perfectionism and School Counselors: Differences in Stress, Coping, and Burnout. Journal of Counseling & Development 96:4 ► pp. 349 ff.

Maddux, Laura & Brenda Nicodemus

2016. “The committee in my head”. Translation and Interpreting Studies 11:2 ► pp. 177 ff.

Ocampo, Anna Carmella G., Lu Wang, Kohyar Kiazad, Simon Lloyd D. Restubog & Neal M. Ashkanasy

2020. The relentless pursuit of perfectionism: A review of perfectionism in the workplace and an agenda for future research. Journal of Organizational Behavior 41:2 ► pp. 144 ff.

Risku, Hanna, Regina Rogl & Jelena Milosevic

2017. Translation practice in the field. Translation Spaces 6:1 ► pp. 3 ff.

Risku, Hanna, Regina Rogl & Jelena Milosevic

2019. Translation practice in the field: Current research on socio-cognitive processes. In Translation Practice in the Field [Benjamins Current Topics, 105], ► pp. 1 ff.

Stoeber, Joachim & Lavinia E. Damian

2016. Perfectionism in Employees: Work Engagement, Workaholism, and Burnout. In Perfectionism, Health, and Well-Being, ► pp. 265 ff.

Tekgül, Duygu

2020. Faith-related interpreting as emotional labour: a case study at a Protestant Armenian church in Istanbul. Perspectives 28:1 ► pp. 43 ff.

Xu, Linna, Zhi Liu, Ming Ji, Yuntao Dong & Chia-Huei Wu

2022. Leader Perfectionism—Friend or Foe of Employee Creativity? Locus of Control as a Key Contingency. Academy of Management Journal 65:6 ► pp. 2092 ff.

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 22 may 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.