Who Thrives as a Direct Support Professional? Personal Motivation and Resilience in Direct Support
Journal ArticleExpanding Access & Cultural Competence
August 15, 2020
Direct support professionals (DSPs) are an essential part of the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Occupational stress and burnout are common experiences among DSPs—but other DSPs remain motivated by and successful in the profession. This study used sensitivity theory to examine the relationships between motivation and outcome measures relevant to DSP success, namely vocational strain, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.