Abstract
Resident Advisors/Assistants (RAs) are the cornerstone of the college residential community, and previous research on RA mental health has explored burnout factors, with the author noting a clear absence of research on RA self-care. RA mental health remains understudied, and this project intended to fill these gaps in the literature as it aimed to explore RA’s lived experiences, notably how they are affected by burnout and practice self-care within the scope of their role. Current returning RAs were recruited through their departments of Residence Life. This sample of ten RAs included eight undergraduate RAs, two graduate RAs, seven female RAs, one male RA, two genderqueer and nonbinary RAs, one Head Resident, seven White RAs, one Latina RA, one South Asian RA, and two RAs with disabilities; all participants were from universities in the Midwest and Northeast. After meeting inclusion criteria, data was collected through a brief demographic survey and in-depth, semi-structed phenomenological interviews about their experiences with burnout and self-care. Thematic analysis of interview data was conducted to create themes reflective of the RA lived experience of the role. Themes included: Essence, Processes and Procedures, Relationships, Residence Life Culture, Burnout, and Self-Care. A discussion including implications for clinical practice, considerations for future research, and suggestions for continuing to support RAs in their roles are provided, along with strengths and limitations of the current study.