ORCID

Abstract

Studies have shown that stress has contributed to employee turnover and retention problems for agencies, and at the individual level, chronic stress has been associated with coronary heart disease, anxiety, depression, and many other negative effects. In the past, the extent of stress one has felt has been measured by subjective paper-and-pencil instruments; however, recent technological advances have improved our ability to obtain accurate biofeedback assessments from wearable instruments. The Kentucky Child Welfare Workforce Wellness Initiative is the first known study to explore physiological stress in a sample (n = 32) of child welfare professionals using biometric technology (Firstbeat Bodyguard 2) and the first to report that data longitudinally over a four-month period. The study revealed that a variable associated with the strength of the Autonomic Nervous System (RMSSD) remained below the norms for a healthy population as participants experienced consistent and prolonged physiological stress. When examined relatively to the agency’s lifting of COVID restrictions and returning to face-to-face service delivery, stress levels began to further rise almost to significant levels (p

Publication Date

2024-01-01

Publication Title

Journal of Public Child Welfare

Volume

18

Issue

1

ISSN

1554-8732

Deposit Date

2023-02-23

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported, in part, by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services under Agreement titled “Kentucky Child Welfare Workforce Wellness Initiative.” Additional support was provided by the Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation, LifeSkills, Inc., and Western Kentucky University. Additional support was provided by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Department for Medicaid Services, State University Partnership and the Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation. Research reported in this publication was supported, in part, by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services under Agreement titled “Kentucky Child Welfare Workforce Wellness Initiative.” Additional support was provided by the Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation, LifeSkills, Inc., and Western Kentucky University.

Keywords

Child welfare, Biomarkers, Health, Job stress, Longitudinal, job stress, biomarkers, health, longitudinal

First Page

158

Last Page

181

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