The purpose of this study was to develop a self-care scale geared toward child counselors. And it's also meant to investigate the relationship of a self-care scale for child counselors developed in this study to an ISCS and child counselor burnout, ch...
The purpose of this study was to develop a self-care scale geared toward child counselors. And it's also meant to investigate the relationship of a self-care scale for child counselors developed in this study to an ISCS and child counselor burnout, child counseling process evaluation and child counselor development level in order to verify the validity of the scale developed.
To determine what should make up a self-care scale for child counselors, earlier studies were analyzed, and the selected child counselors were interviewed to devise self-care items. A content analysis was made after the items were devised, and then their content validity was tested. After a factor analysis was made, their reliability and criterion-related validity were checked. Thus, the self-care scale for child counselors was developed. To test the concurrent validity of the scale, an ISCS was utilized, and a child counselor burnout scale was utilized to test the discriminant validity of it. To test the counselor- related variables, a child counselor development level inventory and a child counseling therapy evaluation inventory were used, and the relationship of demotivation, child counseling process evaluation and development level was investigated.
Eight people were respectively interviewed to develop the self-care scale for child counselors, and 17 people who included play therapy experts, child counselors and inventory developers were asked to verify the content validity of the scale. 194 incumbent child counselors were asked to make an exploratory factor analysis, and 250 child counselors who were providing counseling were asked to test its criterion-related validity and relationship with the counselor-related variables. As for data analysis, statistical data on frequency and percentage were obtained, and factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were utilized.
The major findings of the study were as follows:
First, preliminary items were devised to develop the self-care scale for child counselors. As a result, 329 items were prepared. A group of experts was asked to test the content validity of the items, and then 106 preliminary items were selected, which were 52 items of personal self-care and 54 items of professional self-care.
Second, 77 items that consisted of 35 personal self-care items and 42 professional self-care items were selected after a pilot survey was conducted. After a main survey was conducted, factor analysis was made, and then 21 personal self-care items were selected, which were categorized into two factors: 'environmental regulation and balance' and 'relational regulation and balance.' The total internal consistency of the personal self-care items was .77, and the internal consistency of the subfactors was between .68 and .72. The professional self-care items numbered 27 and were categorized into three factors: 'seeking professional help,' 'organization and ethics,' and 'identity reinforcement.' The total internal consistency of the professional self-care items was .82, and the internal consistency of the subfactors was between .68 and .77
Third, as a result of testing the criterion-related validity of the scale, there was a significant correlation between the child counselor self-care scale and the ISCS. Therefore the scale turned out valid.
Fourth, whether there would be any differences between the highly burnout group and the less burnout group was analyzed to determine the discriminant validity of the subfactors of the self-care scale. As a result, there were differences between the two groups in personal and professional self-care, and the self-care scale turned out valid consequently. In addition, the personal self-care and professional self-care of the child counselors were negatively correlated to burnout. 'The relational regulation and balance' that belonged to personal self-care were identified as a variable to predict burnout. In terms of professional self-care, 'seeking professional help' was a variable to predict 'negative attitude to counseling' and 'extension into negative relationship' that belonged to burnout.
Fifth, as a result of analyzing the relationship of the child counselor self-care scale and the child counseling process evaluation of the child counselors, personal self-care had a significant correlation to child counseling process evaluation, and 'relational regulation and balance' that belonged to personal self-care was a variable to predict child counseling process evaluation. As to professional self-care, 'organization and ethics' and 'identity reinforcement' were positively correlated to child counseling process evaluation, and 'identity reinforcement' was a variable to predict 'therapeutic difficulties and errors' and 'professional skills' that belonged to child counseling process evaluation.
Sixth, as a result of analyzing the relationship between the child counselor self-care scale and the development level of the child counselors, personal self-care had a significant correlation to the development level of the child counselors, and 'relational regulation and balance' was a variable to predict their development level. In terms of professional self-care, 'organization and ethics' and 'professional improvement' were significantly correlated to their development level, and 'professional improvement' was a variable to predict their development level.
The scale developed in this study is expected to be of use for the exploration of the self-care awareness and related variables of child counselors, for counseling education and training, and for the clinical performance of counselors.