Psychological Burdens of Social Work Professionals: A Critical Analysis Within the German Welfare System

Abstract

This study investigates the psychological burdens faced by social work professionals within the German welfare system, with a particular focus on three interrelated constructs: administrative workload (job demand), emotional exhaustion (burnout indicator), and professional resilience (personal resource). Drawing on survey data from 143 social workers in Rheinland-Pfalz, collected between January and May 2024 via an online survey (Unipark), the study operationalizes these constructs using standardized Likert-scale instruments. Guided by the job demands–resources (JD–R) model, the analysis examines (a) the relationships between these constructs, (b) their associations with key sociodemographic and professional variables (educational qualification, field of practice, and organization type), and (c) their implications for evidence-based interventions. The findings indicate that a high administrative workload is strongly associated with emotional exhaustion, while professional resilience serves as a mitigating factor. Social workers employed in municipal agencies report significantly higher levels of emotional exhaustion compared to those in free welfare organizations, suggesting that bureaucratic constraints in public-sector social work exacerbate stress levels. In addition, the study finds that professional resilience moderates the relationship between administrative workload and emotional exhaustion, underscoring its protective role against burnout. These results emphasize the urgent need for systemic reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic burdens, strengthening resilience-building programs, and restructuring administrative processes within social work organizations. The study contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of occupational stress in social work and provides recommendations for improving worker well-being through targeted interventions.