Burnout Syndrome in Reception Systems for Illegal Immigrants in the Mediterranean. A Quantitative and Qualitative Study of Italian Practitioners

Marcello Nonnis, Monica Piera Pirrone, Stefania Cuccu, Mirian Agus, Maria Luisa Pedditzi and Claudio Giovanni Cortese
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Marcello Nonnis: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Monica Piera Pirrone: Psicologi per i Popoli Sardegna, 09128 Cagliari, Italy
Stefania Cuccu: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Mirian Agus: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Maria Luisa Pedditzi: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Claudio Giovanni Cortese: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-23

Abstract: Illegal immigration throughout the Mediterranean Sea is an intense and epoch-making phenomenon. This quantitative and qualitative study, based on the framework of the JD-R Model of burnout, described and assessed the risk of burnout among practitioners working in the reception system for illegal immigrants. A sample of Italian practitioners completed the Link Burnout Questionnaire (N = 193) and a semistructured interview (N = 108). The analysis of the questionnaires was carried out via ANOVA and χ 2 test. The content of the interviews was examined using T-LAB. Quantitative results showed that the sample was generally at risk of burnout, and about a quarter were at severe risk. Qualitative results highlighted aspects of burnout that are specific to this working context: large workload, mental fatigue, and lack of social support; inability to understand the language and cultural differences of the immigrants; having to deal with organisational problems that come up repeatedly. This study offers coping strategies that can improve organisational health and performance of practitioners working in illegal immigration. Italy’s shape, geographical location, and geo-political role make it a case in point for the whole European continent regarding the sustainability of illegal immigration across the Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords: burnout; illegal immigration; reception system; organisational well-being; quantitative and qualitative study; JD-R model; NGO; volunteering; Mediterranean Sea (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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