title: What shelters can do about euthanasia-related stress: an examination of recommendations from those on the front line.
abstract: Shelter employees with euthanasia responsibilities are an at-risk population for a variety of psychological and emotional ailments. This study surveyed 305 employees from 62 shelters throughout the United States to gather first-hand perspectives on what should be done to assist shelter workers in dealing with euthanasia-related stress. Researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of 359 improvement suggestions to identify broad common themes and sorted the suggestions into 26 thematic categories. The most common participant suggestion concerned management supportive-ness (13.17% of participants). Some other issues raised involved providing counseling, job rotation, assistance or more help, breaks and time off, support groups and meetings, better communication, skills-based training, stress and coping seminars, and employee appreciation and morale-boosting initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Organizational Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223-0001, USA. sgrogelb@email.uncc.edu
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Rogelberg
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: DiGiacomo
authors.forename: Charlie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spitzmuller
authors.forename: Olga L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teeter
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Nathan T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Paula G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Starling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology*