Research: Supervisor Support as a Predictor of Burnout and Therapeutic Self-Efficacy in Therapists Working in ABA Schools

Authored by Gibson, JA, Grey IM, and Hastings RP in J Autism Dev Disord, Volume 39, Issue 7, p. 1024-1030, (2009).

Article summary (posted Aug 19, 2010):

Regular and high quality supervision of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists may improve the success of ABA intervention.

The focus of this study was on how ABA therapists feel about their work. The survey, of 81 therapists working in ABA schools, found that the therapists who were the most happy had the most support from their bosses. The therapists who received the most support from their bosses also felt that they were doing the best job with the students. The best bosses were those who showed empathy for the therapists and who had a style that rewarded the good choices of the therapists. The study was performed in Ireland, but the authors note that it did not include all ABA therapists in Ireland.

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You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
applied behavior analysis (ABA), effectiveness, empathy, focus, intervention, school, supervision, therapist
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