There is considerable debate about the optimal methods to be taken in measuring work related stressor-strain links. This study has explored these issues by testing a two-factor approach of assessing occupationally and organisationally linked stressors. The discriminant validity of the Job Stress Survey (JSS; Spielberger & Vagg, 1999) was tested in this study. 1,050 employees from seven National Health Service (NHS) Trusts were examined to evaluate the degree to which JSS subscales of Job Pressure and Lack of Organizational Support differentiated between staff experiences of occupational and organisational stressors respectively. Support for the discriminant validity of the JSS was obtained with inter-occupational differences in Job Pressure when comparing between the seven NHS staff groups surveyed. By contrast, staff subjected to major organisational change were more likely to report high levels of Lack of Organizational Support than those not facing such change. The satisfactory discriminant validity of the JSS has general implications for stress prevention and management. Workers in occupations prone to high occupational stress could benefit from targeted stress management interventions, whereas endemic organisational stress could be more effectively tackled with an organisation-wide focus. MIS workers' degree of Neuroticism appeared to bias links between stressors and strains. Also, when compared with low-ranking and high-ranking staff, middle-ranking workers had the highest levels of stressor experiences and the lowest job satisfaction. As a result, future research and interventions should consider the role of Neuroticism and occupational seniority, as these variables significantly influenced NHS employees' stress experiences. It is also recommended that research into workplace stress should involve the statistical control of Neuroticism. By neglecting the crucial role of Neuroticism, researchers may be ignoring the full extent to which this personality trait may distort the true link between a stressor and subsequent strain.

The aim with the current study was to investigate whether coaching could help to reduce perceived stress in the workplace. Part I of the study measured stress before and after coaching comparing a coaching (N=16) and a control group (N=15) in a sample of employees from a UK fmancial organisation. The results showed that the coaching did not significantly reduce stress. Part II of the study investigated the relationship between coaching and stress. Employees from the UK fmance organisation and from a Scandinavian telecommunications organisation participated (N=103). Stress levels were measured after coaching in a coaching and control group. Multiple regression analyses showed that participation in coaching did not have a relationship with lower stress levels. Nevertheless, high levels of coaching effectiveness were reported by the participants in both Part I and II of the study. Thus, the coaching appeared to be effective at tackling the specific issues targeted in coaching while failing to significantly reduce levels of stress. Part III of the study used a qualitative methodology. Employees from the participating organisations were interviewed about their experiences of coaching (N=9). The interviews were analysed by using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and four main themes emerged: management of stress - coaching helped to reduce stress indirectly; the coaching relationship - this relationship was found to be very important; confidence - coaching helped to increase confidence; and coaching = investment in staff - the provision of coaching was viewed as a sign that the employer cared for and valued their employees. The purpose of the case study was to outline the therapeutic intervention with a client suffering from workplace stress in a primary care setting. A cognitive behavioural approach (Beck, 1976; Beck, 1995) was used, and, accordingly, the therapeutic interventions focused on the client's cognitions, moods, behaviour and physiology. In addition, the client's work situation was explored and organisational stressors were identified. The critical literature review investigated literature relating to the impact of gender on the level of workplace stress. Many of the studies indicate that women report higher levels of stress, however, several studies report no difference between the genders. Furthermore, research and theory concerning working women and the stressors 'multiple roles', 'lack of career progress', and 'discrimination and stereotyping' were also reviewed. The evidence for the adverse effects of these stressors is inconsistent. Gaps and limitations of the research are discussed.

Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. / Bibliography: p. 301-328. / xi, 417p. : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1996?

Le lien entre le bien être d’un résident accueilli, de sa famille et celui du professionnel qui exerce dans cette même institution est souvent pré supposé. Sans parler pour autant de lien de cause à effet dans un sens ou un autre nous pouvons alors nous interroger sur cette corrélation et son bien-fondé. En effet, une structure qui évaluerait une partie de sa performance institutionnelle par la satisfaction des personnes qu’elle accueille a-t-elle dans des proportions relativement comparables le même résultat avec tous ses professionnels ? Avoir des résidents satisfaits par l’accompagnement institutionnel proposé ou par extension réussir son évaluation externe est-il forcément synonyme d’un bien-être au travail et inversement ? Chacun serait tenter de répondre à ces questions mais il serait difficile de fédérer autour d’une réponse commune tant la subjectivité des notions de performance, de stress revêtent une part considérable. Avec l’apparition de la notion de qualité dans les Etablissements Hébergeant Personnes Agées Dépendantes, la notion même de satisfaction qu’elle soit sous forme d’enquêtes, ou tout simplement exprimée est de plus en plus présente. Après avoir défini l’ensemble des concepts spécifiques au secteur médico-social et notamment les politiques qui impactent le quotidien du professionnel mais également après avoir défini ceux propres aux sciences de gestion, cette recherche s’articule en trois phases. La première porte sur une étude de la satisfaction des résidents et des familles au sein de 3 EHPAD en Moselle. L’objectif est d’analyser la teneur et la perception que peuvent avoir résidents et familles de la structure en général et de ses professionnels. La seconde phase vise à analyser sur ces 3 mêmes établissements les facteurs de stress des professionnels afin de proposer en lien avec la partie théorique des variables explicatives au stress. A l’issue des deux premières phases, un outil appelé « mesure de la qualité de vie au travail en EHPAD » a été proposé et testé. La troisième phase s’est déroulée en partenariat avec l’Agence Nationale d’Appui à la Performance qui, par son soutien a permis de généraliser l’étude au sein de 26 EHPAD répartis sur le territoire français. L’objectif de cette dernière phase, dans la continuité des deux précédentes porte sur l’évaluation de la portée et la mesure des variables explicatives du stress. A travers un large panel de professionnels et d’établissements, cette troisième phase apporte une réponse à la problématique portant plus spécifiquement sur l’analyse des variables familles et résidents dans une fonction stress propre au professionnel d’EHPAD. Cette approche méthodologique et scientifique s’appuie sur les apports théoriques propres aux sciences de gestion et adaptés au contexte sanitaire et médico-social. / The link between a resident’s well-being, his families’ and that of the person working in the institution is often taken for granted. Without mentioning a cause to effect relationship in one or the other direction we can question both the connection and its validity. Indeed, we could wonder whether a nursing home that would evaluate part of its institutional efficiency using as a criterion the satisfaction of its residents would obtain comparable results with all its employees. Does dealing with residents satisfied with the institutional services offered – or by extension being successful in external evaluation – necessarily entail a sense of well-being at work and conversely? One might be tempted to answer these questions but it would be difficult to combine all the answers into one federated reply, the subjectivity related to notions of efficiency and stress being so considerable. With the advent of the notion of quality in nursing homes for elderly dependants, the very notion of satisfaction – be it shown via surveys or more simply expressed – is more and more present. After having given a definition of the body of concepts specific to health care and social welfare and in particular the policies having an impact on the day-to-day practice of employees, but also after having given a definition of the concepts specific to management, this research articulates itself in three phases. The first phase concentrates on a survey of residents and their families’ satisfaction in three nursing homes for elderly dependants in Moselle. The objective is to analyse the perception that residents and their families might have of the nursing home in general and of its employees. The second phase aims at analysing in the same three institutions the stress-related problems of the employees in order to expose – in connexion with the theories – variable factors related to stress. At the end of the first two phases, a tool called “measuring the quality of life at work in nursing homes for elderly dependants” is suggested and tested. The third phase takes place in partnership with the National Agency for Support to Performance which, thanks to its support, enables us to generalise the study to 26 other nursing homes for elderly dependants spread all over France. The objective of this last phase – in continuity with the two previous phases – is the evaluation of the scope and the measuring of variable factors related to stress. Through a large panel of employees and nursing homes, this last phase answers the question concerning more specifically – and as far as employees of nursing homes for elderly dependants are concerned – the analysis of stress linked to variables such as the residents and their families. This methodological and scientific approach rests on theories related to management and adapted to the context of health care and social welfare.

This large scale study (869 participants from a mental health Trust) employed a questionnaire based on an interactional model of occupational stress to investigate (i) burnout in psychiatric nurses, (ii) occupational stress in medics and the professions allied to medicine, (iii) job satisfaction in health service management and support staff, and (iv) the moderating effect of social support in health service personnel. A range of analytic procedures were used including hierarchical regression analysis. Levels of burnout in nurses were low overall, although a significant proportion reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion. Among nurses, negative affectivity and predictability acted as common factors across the three constructs of the burnout syndrome. Medics and professions allied to medicine (P.AM. 's) reported similar levels of stressors to each other. Role ambiguity, role conflict and predictability, in combination with negative affectivity, accounted for most of the reported work related stressors of medics and P.AM. 's. Levels of job satisfaction in management and support staff was on a par with their peers elsewhere. Role ambiguity, role conflict, job future ambiguity, control and non-occupational concerns had an influence on job satisfaction among management and support staff. A significant proportion of nurses, medics and P.AM.'s reported low levels of work support. Those most at risk in this regard appeared to be highly educated, community based, non-shift workers. Higher levels of support were associated with increased job satisfaction and lower levels of both emotional exhaustion and psychological distress. The model adopted in the present study, although not necessarily applicable to all occupational groups, had utility in understanding the complex relationships between variables in this population from a mental health Trust. Despite common themes emerging across occupational groups, clear differences were also apparent, reinforcing the need for tailor-made interventions in occupational stress. The results also highlighted the necessity of including individual characteristics and nonoccupational stressors in any consideration of occupational stress. Further recommendations for each occupational group and the NHS in general are discussed.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / Police members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) work under constant physical, emotional and psychological stress due to the demands of their work. It is possible to assume that this profession could be more susceptible to trauma, depression and suicide ideation than a less demanding profession. The increase in suicides within the SAPS in the past years has created great concern worldwide. The literature review contributes to the understanding of vicarious trauma by providing evidence of its widespread existence and the impact on all professions that deal with trauma victims, as do the SAPS. A need for further research was highlighted. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of vicarious trauma within the SAPS; how rank, marital status, education, duration of service and workload affect the existence of vicarious trauma; and how the experience of vicarious trauma affects the lives of the SAPS member . A quantitative study was done with a sample comprising of 60 SAPS members from the Limpopo Province (Lebowakgomo and Mankweng stations). The inclusion criteria included: participants (both permanent and voluntary) had to be active, field working members of the SAPS and had to be in direct association with trauma victims. The conceptual framework: T rauma Theory guided the description and interpretation of the data. Findings revealed that there exist, at present, high levels of vicarious trauma within the SAPS. The duration of service and the marital status of the individual were found to have an influence on the existence of compassion fatigue, while rank, workload, education level and gender were found to have no direct relationship to the presence of vicarious trauma. Finally , this study concludes with recommendations for future studies into vicarious trauma within the SAPS.

L'objet de cette recherche porte sur une étude comparative concernant les théories et les pratiques de prise en charge de la souffrance au travail en Suède et en France. L'étude permet dans un premier temps de mettre en évidence les références théoriques et conceptuelles en Suède et la France en matière de la santé au travail. Cette étape cherche à faire un comparatif entre les théories en Suède fortement marqués par les modèles de stress et la tradition scientifique en Ile-de-France centrée par la psychopathologie du travail. Dans un second temps la recherche vise à faire le lien entre la théorie et la pratique dans la prise en charge de la souffrance au travail entre la Suède et la France. La méthodologie de recherche consistait à mener une enquête portant sur 42 personnes travaillant dans la prise en charge de la souffrance au travail, en France et en Suède. Ces enquêtes visaient à discerner la réalité de la pratique sur le terrain. L'interprétation des résultats permettait de faire une confrontation des pratiques, notamment celles de la psychodynamique du travail et des modèles de stress afin de pouvoir effectuer des comparatives des avantages des forces et faiblesses de chaque dispositif. / In terms of theory and practice related to occupational mental health, Sweden and France are two countries with different theoretical traditions. While Sweden is highly influenced by physiological stress-models, the scientific tradition in France is influenced by "psychodynamics of work". This research aimed to compare theory and practice related to occupational mental health in France and Sweden. As a first step, the study explored the different theoretical frameworks in both countries. In the next step, the research was bridging theory and practice. It involved semi-structured interviews conducted among 42 staff-members, working in institutions specialized in prevention and treatment of disorders related to occupational settings. The survey aimed to elucidate the reality of the work and to explore the methods recognized as most efficient among the staff members. The study also enabled to compare methods between countries and explore gaps between theory and practice in treatment in terms of occupational mental health.

This research focuses on the concept of occupational stress. Theories and models are discussed in an attempt to highlight the nature of stress and its implications for the individual if it is not effectively managed. Individual differences in the way they experience strain and cope with stress are considered, as well as the organisational implications of stress. Current thinking in the management of stress programmes is highlighted. The empirical study was conducted to determine whether there are differences between various organisational subgroups with regard to variables relating to occupational stress, strain and coping, as measured by the Occupational Stress Inventory - Revised (Osipow, 1998). The findings of the study show that there are significant differences between seniority, age, race and gender subgroups within the accounting organisation in which the research took place, with regard to stress, strain and coping / Industrial Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The aim of this dissertation is to examine gender differences in salutogenic functioning in military deployment. Salutogenisis focuses on the origin of health and wellness, and the salutogenic constructs sense of coherence (SOC), hardiness (PVS) and self-efficacy (SES) which were conceptualised focus on how individuals handle stressors positively and still remain healthy. Gender differences in military deployment were discussed, focusing on different stressors that impact on individuals' functioning when deployed. Empirically the salutogenic constructs: SOC, PVS and SES were measured. The population consisted of males and females working at 7 SAI Phalaborwa who were deployed in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Statistical techniques were applied to determine differences between males and females. The data was analysed statistically using the SPSS programme. Statistical significance was found in the SOC sub-scale "meaningfulness" and the PVS sub-scales "commitment" and "challenge". / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Admin (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The context of this research is the coping and wellness of call centre agents in a characteristically high-stress work environment. The purpose of the study was to construct a psychological coping profile by investigating the relationship between individuals‘ wellness-related dispositional attributes and their resiliency-related behavioural capacities which has been under researched in a call centre work environment. A quantitative cross-sectional survey approach was followed. The population comprised predominantly of a non –probability sample of (N=409) predominantly early career permanently employed black females employed in call centres in Africa. Correlation and multivariate statistics highlighted cognitive (cynicism and hardy-control), affective (managing own emotions) and conative (hardy-commitment) behavioural elements that should be considered in the psychological coping profile of call centre agents. Age and gender were also shown to be significant moderators of the relationship between the wellness-related attributes and the resiliency-related capacities. The main findings are reported and interpreted in terms of an empirically derived psychological coping profile. The findings may provide valuable pointers for the design of wellness intervention practices which add to the body of knowledge concerned with employee wellness in call centres / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)