Coping with the 'caring-killing' paradox

That's the irony," says Rogelberg, a Bowling Green State University psychologist who, as part of a team of researchers in a series of studies, has found that this "caring-killing" paradox takes a physical and emotional toll on many shelter workers.

The most recent research, involving nearly 50 shelters nationwide, is a study of factors that help explain the health and well-being of employees, particularly those with euthanasia responsibilities.

The researchers include Rogelberg's co-author, Dr. Charlie Reeve, who earned his doctorate at BGSU and now teaches at Purdue University. They are trying to help shelters identify practices and approaches that will help employees cope with euthanasia-"a unique stressor" that the majority have difficulty handling, Rogelberg notes. Results include increased levels of physical complaints and alcohol use, as well as more general job stress and family conflict stemming from euthanasia-related work issues, the researchers' studies have shown.

Shelter managers, however, can take steps to alleviate the problem, says Rogelberg, director of BGSU's Institute for Psychological Research and Application. Within their control are such factors as the number of animals euthanized at a time and giving employees a voice in euthanasia decision-making. In addition, he points out, a shelter that is proactive in regard to animal adoptions seems to have a positive impact.

Full results of the most recent study will be presented May 28 in Washington, D.C., to the Humane Society of the United States, which funded the series of studies. "

This is really unprecedented research," according to Rogelberg. "This has been a population (of animal-shelter employees) completely ignored."

The "first-of-its-kind" research documents "a phenomenon that has always been particularly unique and enigmatic for the animal sheltering and advocacy field," adds Natalie DiGiacomo. She is program coordinator at the national Humane Society's Great Lakes Regional Office, located in Bowling Green.

Rogelberg says he believes the workers realize that euthanasia will be part of the job when they go into it. But that realization doesn't mean they will know its psychological impact, and "that's often where the problem starts," he contends. And they're reluctant to leave the job, he adds, because of fear that the animals will then be euthanized by uncaring workers.

Rogelberg became involved in the shelter studies after receiving a phone call from DiGiacomo, who was seeking interested researchers on behalf of the national Humane Society-an animal advocacy group but not a manager of shelters, which are independently or municipally run.

The national organization "is naturally interested in promoting a healthy shelter environment," says DiGiacomo, also a former euthanasia technician. "Our field is very good at taking care of animals, but in order to tackle the impact of euthanasia on staff, we needed to reach outside our profession."

Data from initial studies conducted in 2000 and 2001 was presented to the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association in February, and will be presented again in August at the Academy of Management conference in Seattle, Wash.

Like Reeve, who earned his Ph.D. in psychology from BGSU in 2001, research team member Christiane Spitzmueller is scheduled to receive her doctorate from the University in August. Other BGSU graduate assistants working on the project are Alan Walker and Olga Clark.

The Institute for Psychological Research and Application is an interdisciplinary research institute that offers a variety of services to private and public organizations. Those services include assessment of job satisfaction, employee attitudes, turnover and absenteeism, as well as customer service and satisfaction. Investigators also consult on occupational health and safety, equal employment and affirmative action issues.

(Posted May 01, 2003 )