12/08/2025

PCA Journal Fall 2025 - Article 5: Race-Related Stress, Burnout, and Locus of Hope in Black Mental Health Professionals

Race-Related Stress, Burnout, and Locus of Hope in Black Mental Health Professionals

AUTHORS:

Sage E. Rose, Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions, Hofstra University
Joel J. Brown, Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions, Hofstra University
Sumaiyah Syeda, Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions, Hofstra University

ABSTRACT:

This study examined how race-related stress, burnout, and two dimensions of locus of hope, family support and personal agency, interrelate among Black American mental health professionals. Survey data from 29 participants revealed higher burnout linked to compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. Family-based hope was inversely related to burnout, while personal agency predicted lower compassion fatigue. Findings suggest locus of hope functions as a psychological buffer, underscoring its relevance in managing relational and institutional stressors faced by Black counselors.

 PCA Journal Fall 2025: Article 5