The influence of perceived social support on burnout among social workers in Nigeria

Abstract

Burnout is a growing occupational concern among social workers, with significant consequences for professional effectiveness, workforce sustainability, and service delivery to at-risk populations. In Nigeria, severe workforce shortages, inadequate institutional infrastructure, and high practice demands create conditions of elevated occupational risk, yet empirical evidence on burnout and its relationship to social support remains limited. This study examined the influence of perceived social support on burnout among social workers in Nigeria. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, with data collected from 216 practicing social workers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Burnout was measured using the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), and perceived social support was assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) to measure perceived social support from supervisors and colleagues. Reliability, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression were used for analysis. The sample showed sub-threshold burnout levels on average, with exhaustion emerging as the most elevated dimension. The relationship between perceived social support and burnout was dimension-specific rather than uniformly protective, with workplace support showing a targeted protective effect on cognitive functioning, while family and friends’ support showed small positive associations with exhaustion, consistent with a support-mobilisation effect. These findings show the importance of dimension-sensitive, focused support interventions within social work organisations. Future research needs to prioritise long-term studies, local validation of burnout measures, and the development of stronger institutional support infrastructure for the Nigerian social work profession.