Original scientific paper
Helper syndrome personality in professionals who work with visually impaired persons
Rea Fulgosi-Masnjak
; Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet Sveucilišta u Zagrebu
Margareta Vidmar
; Dnevni centar za rehabilitaciju djece s oštecenjima vida Mala Kuća, Zagreb
Mia Masnjak
; Hrvatski studiji Sveucilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
This investigation is the first one carried out on professionals who work with special needs- visually impaired persons in our country.
It was aimed to determine the degree of expressed Helper syndrome personality in relation to some criterion variables. «Helpers» are usualy professionals who provide help to persons in need, often under the emotionaly stressing circumstances, which afect their mental health. They commonly express altruistic, nonmaterialistic and humanistic life and professional orientation. Helper syndrome- the personality structure is a psychological term, particularly concerning “helping” professions and professionals who work with other people on the basis of the provider-client relationship.
68 participants of both sexes who work in the direct interaction with visually impaired primary and secondary school age children and adults at the Centre for education Vinko Bek were subjects of this study. By occupation they were special teachers, teachers, educators, medical nurses and professional assistants. Helper Sindrome Questionaire (Schmidbauer, 1977) was used in this study. Sociodemographic survey was used as well. Obtained results show that participants' professional qualification and working position, as well as the age of persons with whom they work are statistically significantly influencing their expressed Helper syndrome personality structure.
Keywords
Helper syndrome-personality structure; visual impairement
Hrčak ID:
28998
URI
Publication date:
10.11.2008.
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