ISSN : 2233-6710(Print)
ISSN : 2384-2121(Online)
ISSN : 2384-2121(Online)
Journal of Asia Pacific Counseling Vol.16 No.1 pp.1-19
DOI : https://doi.org/10.18401/2026.16.1.1
DOI : https://doi.org/10.18401/2026.16.1.1
Burnout in U.S. Mental Health Counselors of Chinese Descent During COVID-19
Abstract
This study examined how racism-related stress and social support influenced burnout among U.S.-based mental health counselors of Chinese descent. A sample of 127 full-time counselors (M = 33.67 years, 82% female) completed online surveys assessing burnout, racism-related stress, and both professional and personal social support. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that racism-related stress was positively associated with burnout. Professional social support was negatively associated with burnout, whereas personal social support was not independently associated with burnout. Moderation analyses indicated that neither form of social support significantly buffered racism-related stress, although a small, non-significant trend was observed for personal social support. Findings suggest professional and personal support may relate to burnout through different mechanisms. These findings underscore the emotional toll of racism-related stress on minority counselors and highlight the culturally specific role of personal networks in promoting well-being. Implications include the importance of culturally responsive supervision, support structures that validate racialized experiences, and workplace practices that enhance inclusion. Recommendations are offered for counselors, supervisors, and organizations to better support mental health counselors from Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds.






