ABSTRACT

Recent studies indicate that lawyers are at greater risk of experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and burnout symptoms than other occupational groups and the general population. Opinion pieces have suggested that workplace culture and law practice characteristics can explain the distress. However, no empirical studies have considered the potential impact of the factors on lawyer’s mental health or evaluated the potential impact of lawyer’s mental health on their clients. Empathy is an essential component of legal practice especially during client interactions; and prior research in doctors has shown that stress, anxiety, depression and burnout are associated with low empathy. This study examined the relationship between workplace characteristics, psychological stress, affective distress (i.e. anxiety, depression), burnout and empathy in lawyers. Private practice and in-house lawyers (n = 200) completed a questionnaire asking about work-stress, supervisor and organisational support, stress, affective distress, burnout and empathy. Analyses showed that psychological stress and burnout in lawyers was related to greater work-stress and a lack of perceived organisational support, and in turn, psychological stress and burnout were associated with low empathy in lawyers. Results suggest that stressful and unsupportive workplaces may contribute to stress, affective distress and burnout in lawyers that may have implications for lawyer-client interactions.

摘要

最近的研究表明，与其他职业群体和一般人群相比，律师更容易出现压力、焦虑、抑郁和倦怠症状。有意见表明，职场文化和法律实践特征可以解释这种困扰。然而，没有实证研究考虑这些因素对律师心理健康的潜在影响，也没有评估律师心理健康对其委托人的潜在影响。同理心是法律实践的重要组成部分，尤其是在客户互动期间；先前对医生的研究表明，压力、焦虑、抑郁和倦怠与低同理心有关。这项研究考察了律师的工作场所特征、心理压力、情感困扰（即焦虑、抑郁）、倦怠和同理心之间的关系。n  = 200) 完成了一份问卷，询问工作压力、主管和组织支持、压力、情感困扰、倦怠和同理心。分析表明，律师的心理压力和倦怠与更大的工作压力和缺乏感知的组织支持有关，反过来，心理压力和倦怠与律师的同理心低有关。结果表明，压力和不支持的工作场所可能会导致律师的压力、情感困扰和倦怠，这可能会对律师与客户的互动产生影响。