An analysis of the job satisfaction of substance abuse counselors certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia

Abstract

Licensed substance abuse programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia are reporting turnover rates for counselors of up to 60%. Studies have indicated that low job satisfaction can be a cause for turnover in the human services professions. The entire population of substance abuse counselors certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia was surveyed by mail, using a Modified Minnesota satisfaction Questionnaire and an Individual Information Form. Of the 496 possible responses, 365 were returned for a return rate of 73.7%. The study was conducted to answer three research questions concerning the job satisfaction of these counselors and to provide insight into the possible causes of the high turnover rates. The answers to these questions sought to describe and examine the level of job satisfaction, the sources of job satisfaction and the relationship between job satisfaction and clinical supervisor and clinical supervision variables for this population. The results of the study indicate that these counselors are very satisfied with their jobs. The sources of the greatest influence on job satisfaction are represented by the scales Social service, Moral values and Creativity. The scales Advancement, Policy and practices and Compensation were the least influential on job satisfaction. A model of ten Clinical supervisor and Clinical supervision variables was regressed on job satisfaction. Four variables, Hours of supervision per week, Length of time clinical supervisor has been a clinical supervisor, Degree status of the clinical supervisor and Clinical supervisor is also the administrative supervisor were found to explain a significant amount of the variance in job satisfaction. Although these counselors indicated that they were very satisfied with their jobs, in the next five years 58.44% plan to leave their jobs, which includes 17.75% who plan to leave the substance abuse field entirely.

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