Date of Award
5-2026
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Applied Behavior Analysis: M.S.
Department
Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
College
School of Health and Human Services
First Advisor
Dr. Michele Traub
Second Advisor
Dr. Odessa Luna
Third Advisor
Dr. Eunju Choi
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Burnout, ABA, Clinical Research, Turnover, Behavioral Measures
Abstract
Burnout among staff in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinical settings poses a significant threat to both workforce stability and quality of care. Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal achievement, is often driven by high-intensity schedules, frequent exposure to challenging behaviors, and chronic staffing shortages. From a behavioral perspective, burnout-related behaviors (e.g., call-outs, reduced treatment fidelity, disengagement) may be maintained by negative reinforcement, as staff attempt to escape or avoid aversive working conditions. These patterns can disrupt continuity of care and compromise client outcomes, especially when service delivery becomes inconsistent or procedurally incorrect. Additionally, experienced and full-time staff may be at greater risk due to prolonged exposure to these demands, with limited opportunities for recovery. Understanding burnout through both organizational and behavioral frameworks is essential for developing interventions that improve staff retention, enhance treatment fidelity, and promote sustainable clinical environments. Participants completed various self-report surveys, interviews, and rating scales, while the experimenter observed behaviors and environmental conditions. Although the results suggest that burnout can be linked to staffing shortages, inadequate participation across roles and teams, limited data collection, and visual analyses. Further research directions are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Mattson, Alanna E., "Identifying Variables Associated with Burnout in Clinical Applied Behavior Analysis" (2026). Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy. 124.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cpcf_etds/124
