The Professional Counselor | Volume 13, Issue 3 170 Table 4 Goodness of Fit Indices Model χ2 df GFI AGFI RMSEA SRMR CFI TLI Saturated model 0.000 0.000 1.000 1.000 0.000 0.000 1.000 1.000 Modified model 1 0.008 1.000 1.000 1.000 0.000 0.001 1.000 1.071 Modified model 2 2.168 2.000 0.997 0.981 0.015 0.019 0.999 0.994 Modified model 3 (retained) 6.104 3.000 0.993 0.964 0.054 0.033 0.978 0.926 Note. AGFI = adjusted goodness of fit index; CFI = comparative normed fit index; df = degree of freedom; GFI = goodness of fit index; RMSEA = root mean squared error of approximation; SRMR = standardized root mean square residual; TLI = Tucker-Lewis index. Discussion This study examined a process model of counselor burnout in the work context by analyzing our proposed serial mediation model. The findings support the hypothesized sequential process model of counselor burnout by confirming the full mediating effects of Deterioration in Personal Life, Exhaustion, and Incompetence in a serial order on the relationship between Negative Work Environment and Devaluing Client. The final model describes the mechanism of counselor burnout, pertaining to how it starts and proceeds to the point where clients are affected. In the proposed model, Negative Work Environment, an external factor that counselors are usually not able to control, may affect counselors’ experiences not only at work but also in their personal lives. This is consistent with previous findings in which counselors exposed to unfavorable work environments for an extended period tended to have poor boundaries between work and life and thus failed to maintain well-being in their personal lives (Leiter & Durup, 1996; Puig et al., 2012). Limited ability to find a balance between work and personal life because of negative work-related factors such as an excessive workload may affect the overall quality of life, resulting in emotional and physical depletion among counselors. Accordingly, in the final model, Exhaustion was predicted by Negative Work Environment through Deterioration in Personal Life. Exhaustion then predicted counselors’ feelings of incompetence as hypothesized. Being emotionally and physically exhausted, counselors may experience a reduced sense of self-competence and selfview as professional counselors, which may also influence their actual performance. The final model depicted that the feelings of incompetence predicted Devaluing Client, indicating counselors were unable to emotionally connect with their clients and thus lost interest in their clients’ welfare. Our findings supported previous studies (Maslach & Leiter, 2016; Maslach et al., 2001; Park & Lee, 2013; Taris et al., 2005; van Dierendonck et al., 2001) that found causal relationships between exhaustion and reduced accomplishment, as well as between exhaustion and depersonalization. For example, several researchers have argued that exhaustion may decrease professionals’ self-efficacy in providing quality services to their clients and that it may also increase depersonalization, in which they feel indifferent
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