Background: Moral distress is an increasing concern among nurses in their workplace. Previous research has suggested that moral distress is associated with ethical climate and job dissatisfaction. Economic restraints in the organization have led to loss of nurses from the workplace. Aim: To examine nurses experience of moral distress and their causes. Method: The study was a literature review. Twelve articles were used in the study. They had both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The articles were published between 2000-2011. Results: Three themes emerged from the articles: Powerlessness, meaninglessness and feeling unsafe. The main cause of these feelings was due to understaffing and working with nurses I consider unsafe. Another cause was to perform tasks that I consider meaningless for the patient and cause more harm than good. Conclusion: Moral distress is common among nurses in health care. It can be elicited from different kinds of situations encountered in the work environment. Keywords:  experience, job satisfaction, moral distress, nursing, occupational stress

Hurricane Ike struck the coast of Texas on September 13, 2008. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a branch of the United States Department of Homeland Security, implemented a Disaster Case Management Pilot (DCM-P) project to help residents of the impacted areas recover from the devastation caused by the hurricane. Disaster case managers employed by the three larger recipient organizations selected for the project by FEMA served as the link between the victims and the desired resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress levels of the disaster case managers employed through the ten smaller faith-based organizations that make up one of the larger recipient organizations providing case management services to victims. Questionnaires based on the Job Stress Survey developed by Spielberger and Vagg were mailed to 145 disaster case managers employed by the faith-based recipient organization. Of the 145 questionnaires mailed out, 89 were completed and mailed back for data analysis. Based on answers selected by the respondents, frequency and severity scores for each of the thirty stressors identified through the instrument were calculated. Based on severity and frequency scores for the stressors, scores were calculated for the job stress index and two subscales, the job pressure index and the lack of support index. Findings showed that both the most severe and the most frequently experienced stressors were caused by aspects of the job itself that related to job pressure. Furthermore, many of the same items that were rated as having the highest severity of stress were also the most frequently experienced stressors.

Higher education is important to the country's economic growth. Due to globalisation, it is important for higher education institutions to keep up with change. The introduction of universities of technology in response to this places a new demand on academic institutions in South Africa, creating more occupational stress on employees. Other expectations, for example demands for more research and publication exert more pressure on staff, which escalates these stress levels. Workload of staff fluctuates between higher and lower and with this, a change of fluctuating periods of stress from acute to chronic is described. This chronic stress has a negative impact on the individuals' physical and psychological health, their interpersonal relationships at work and the quality of their work, as well as on workplace morale. The objectives of the study were to establish how occupational stress, ill health and commitment are conceptualised in the literature; to establish what the occupational stress levels of staff at a university of technology are and to assess the mutual relationships among occupational stress, organisational commitment and ill health of employees at the specific institution. The research method consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A stratified random sample was taken of academic and support staff at a specific university of technology (N = 334). The ASSET Organizational Stress Screening Tool and a biographical questionnaire were administered on the personnel. Cronbach alpha coefficients were used to determine the significance of dimensions of the ASSET. Exploratory factor analysis was used to investigate the factor structure of the occupational stress items of the ASSET. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to specify the relationship between the variables. Standard multiple regression analyses were used to assess whether occupational stress predicts ill health and organisational commitment. The results showed that two occupational stressors, namely control and work relationships were higher than the norm. Physical and psychological ill health was predicted by occupational stress due to job demands and lack of organisational support. Occupational stress because of job demands had a significant effect on both affective and behavioural commitment of employees. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Higher education is important to the country's economic growth. Due to globalisation, it is important for higher education institutions to keep up with change. The introduction of universities of technology in response to this places a new demand on academic institutions in South Africa, creating more occupational stress on employees. Other expectations, for example demands for more research and publication exert more pressure on staff, which escalates these stress levels. Workload of staff fluctuates between higher and lower and with this, a change of fluctuating periods of stress from acute to chronic is described. This chronic stress has a negative impact on the individuals' physical and psychological health, their interpersonal relationships at work and the quality of their work, as well as on workplace morale. The objectives of the study were to establish how occupational stress, ill health and commitment are conceptualised in the literature; to establish what the occupational stress levels of staff at a university of technology are and to assess the mutual relationships among occupational stress, organisational commitment and ill health of employees at the specific institution. The research method consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A stratified random sample was taken of academic and support staff at a specific university of technology (N = 334). The ASSET Organizational Stress Screening Tool and a biographical questionnaire were administered on the personnel. Cronbach alpha coefficients were used to determine the significance of dimensions of the ASSET. Exploratory factor analysis was used to investigate the factor structure of the occupational stress items of the ASSET. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to specify the relationship between the variables. Standard multiple regression analyses were used to assess whether occupational stress predicts ill health and organisational commitment. The results showed that two occupational stressors, namely control and work relationships were higher than the norm. Physical and psychological ill health was predicted by occupational stress due to job demands and lack of organisational support. Occupational stress because of job demands had a significant effect on both affective and behavioural commitment of employees. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Occupational stress is considered to be a rising concern in many organisations in South Africa; it is, moreover, a pervasive problem in our communities in general. The consequences of high-stress environments are typically a, reduction in the quality and quantity of job performance, high levels of absenteeism, an increase in turnover, an increased number of grievances and increased frequency of accidents. Correctional Services has been reported to be the most challenging and frustrating component of the criminal justice system. Factors such as having a high level of responsibility, genuine threats to personal safety, rotating shifts, meager salaries and unpleasant surroundings, all add to the stress of Correctional Service Officials. The results of uncontrolled stress are costly to both the individual and the organisation. It is thus important for both the organisation and employees to learn or acquire ways of coping with stress. The empirical objective of this study was to investigate relationships between occupational stress and i l l health among employees of Correctional Services in the Vereeniging Management Area, in order to contribute towards an understanding of the interaction between these variables, and the implication thereof for the management of occupational stress and i l l health in the specific setting. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data and to attain the research objectives. The study population included the entire population consisting of (n= 197) employees of Correctional Services in the Vereeniging Management area. Management and production levels were fully represented. The Correctional Official Stress Inventory, General Health Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were used as measuring instruments. The reliability and validity of all questionnaires were found to be acceptable. The findings revealed that increased levels of occupational stress lead to increased levels of exhaustion and this may in turn lead to increased experience of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. Higher levels of exhaustion and cynicism were associated with higher levels of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression. The findings again revealed that an increase in the frequency of stress might lead to an increase in the experience of exhaustion, somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. It was also found that stress could have some predictive value with regard to burnout, work engagement and health. It is recommended that more awareness need to be created about the symptoms and effects of occupational stress and burnout on individuals as well as organisations. This study was conducted in a small correctional institution, as a result the study population was too small, which made it difficult to generalise beyond the study population. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Bakgrund: Många sjuksköterskor utsätts för stress på grund av yrkets höga arbetskrav. Stress i hälso- och sjukvården kan leda till negativa konsekvenser när det kommer till sjuksköterskors hälsa. De negativa följderna påverkar deras arbetsprestation samt medför en sämre kvalité i omvårdnaden för patienterna. Detta problem medför att en bristande säkerhet för både patient och sjuksköterskor uppstår. En långvarig stress ökar risken till utbrändhet, vilket leder till stora kostnader för samhället. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa hur sjuksköterskor hanterar yrkesrelaterad stress. Metod: En litteraturstudie genomfördes med tre kvalitativa och nio kvantitativa artiklar. Artiklarna granskades och resultaten kodades till fyra kategorier som svarade till studiens syfte. Resultat: Studiens resultat skapade fyra kategorier vilka var genom optimism, genom självkontroll, genom avslappning samt genom stöd. Slutsats: Resultatet visar på att sjuksköterskor har olika strategier för att hantera yrkesrelaterad stress. Studien belyser vikten av att hantera yrkesrelaterad stress för att undvika de negativa följderna av stress. Ytterligare forskning behövs med fokus på hur man minimerar samt hanterar stress på arbetsplatser för sjuksköterskor. / Background: Many registered nurses are exposed to stress because of the works high job demands. Stress in healthcare can lead to negative consequences when it comes to registered nurses health. The negative consequences affects the nurse output of work which entails a less good quality in caring for the patients. This problem entails a lack of security for the patients and the nurse. A long lasting stress increases the risk of burnout which leads to major costs for the society. Purpose: The purpose was to illustrate how the registered nurses cope with occupational stress. Method: A literature study was conducted with three qualitative and nine quantitative articles. The articles were reviewed and the results were coded in four categories, who answered to the study’s purpose. Result: The study resulted in four categories which were by optimism, self control, relaxation and support. Conclusion: The result showed that the registered nurses have different strategies to cope with occupational stress. The study highlights the importance of handling with occupational stress to avoid the negative consequences of stress. More research with focus on how to minimize and cope with stress is in need to make a better work environment for nurses.

Atualmente, o nível de exigências do mercado de trabalho tem aumentado, a qualificação profissional se tornou indispensável, a concorrência está cada vez maior e por isso, o estresse ocupacional tem destaque no processo de saúde-doença do individuo em seu ambiente de trabalho. O mecanismo interno de liberação de estresse pode causar, entre outros, um aumento na tonicidade da musculatura da cabeça e do pescoço, como também dos níveis de atividade muscular parafuncional, como o bruxismo e o apertamento dentário. Assim, o cirurgião-dentista tem o papel de diagnosticar, tratar e proservar os pacientes com disfunção temporomandibular. Uma das profissões mais históricas no Brasil, ser militar, especificamente da força armada terrestre, o Exército Brasileiro tem, além de suas características de honestidade, vigor físico, responsabilidade e pontualidade, fatores associados que podem gerar o estresse ocupacional, como o risco à vida, sujeição a preceitos rígidos de hierarquia e disciplina, disponibilidade permanente, mobilidade geográfica, formação específica e aperfeiçoamento constante, além das consequências para a família. Nesse contexto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar a presença de estresse ocupacional em uma população de militares no município de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil e analisar sua relação com os achados clínicos de DTM e o exame eletromiográfico dos músculos mastigatórios. A amostra foi composta por 30 sujeitos da pesquisa, militares da 5ª CSM. A presença de DTM foi investigada por meio de questionário anamnésico (ProDTMMulti) e de exame clínico odontológico (RDC/TMD; Helkimo). O estresse ocupacional foi investigado por meio de questionário específico, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Os exames eletromiográficos e de força de mordida foram realizados no gabinete odontológico da 5ª CSM por cirurgiã-dentista experiente, a qual participa ativamente do serviço como profissional militar contratada pela instituição. Os resultados mostraram que no exame clínico, 90% dos militares não foi classificável pelo RDC e apenas 20% foram classificados com disfunção severa (grupo 3) do Índice de HELKIMO. Pelo Protocolo ProDTMMulti: 46,66% dos militares se enquadraram no grau zero (ausência de DTM), 40% no grau 1 (DTM leve) e apenas 13,33% dos militares relataram sintomas um pouco mais acentuados, ficando no grau 2 (DTM moderada). Com relação ao estresse, a única correlação existente foi com a patente: quanto maior a patente, menor o estresse. Pela análise eletromiográfica nos testes estáticos e dinâmicos da mandíbula, observou-se simetria entre os lados direito e esquerdo, e um padrão mastigatório equilibrado entre os lados. No teste de força máxima de mordida, a força também se apresentou equilibrada entre os lados. Concluiu-se que o estresse ocupacional está presente nesta amostra, porém não se correlacionou com os achados clínicos de DTM e com o exame eletromiográfico dos músculos mastigatórios dos militares da 5ª CSM do município de Ribeirão Preto/SP. / As the labor market requirements have increased, professional qualification has been taken as essential and the work competition keeps heightening, occupational stress has become prominent in the health-disease process of the working person. Among other things, the internal mechanism of stress release can cause an increased tonicity of head and neck muscles and increased levels of muscular parafunctional activity such as teeth grinding (bruxism) and teeth clenching. The dentist has the role in diagnosing, treating and following-up patients with temporomandibular dysfunction. One of the most historic occupations in Brazil, the military career at the Brazilian Army, besides characteristics of honesty, physical force, responsibility and punctuality, has associated factors that can lead to occupational stress, as the risk of death, to be under precepts of strict discipline and hierarchy, permanent availability, geographic mobility, specific training and continuous improvement, and the resulting consequences for the family. The objective of this research was to study the relation between occupational stress and degree of TMD in soldiers of Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The study sample had 30 military volunteers from the 5th CSM. The presence of TMD was investigated by use of an anamnestic questionnaire (ProDTMMulti) and dental clinical examination (RDC/TMD; Helkimo). Occupational stress was investigated by means of a specific questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Electromyographic and bite force tests were held in the dental office of the 5ª CSM by a qualified dentist who participates actively in the service as a military professional hired by the institution. Results of clinical examination showed that 90% of the studied subjects were not classifiable by the RDC and only 20% were classifiable as having severe dysfunction (Group 3) by HELKIMO Index. By the ProDTMMulti Protocol, 46,66% of the individuals were classified in Grade 0 (absence of TMD), 40% in Grade I (light TMD) and only 13,33% reported symptoms a little more pronounced being in Grade II (moderate TMD). Regarding stress, the only identified correlation was with the military rank: higher the rank, lower the stress. By electromyography analysis in mandible static and dynamic tests, it was observed symmetry between right and left sides, and a balanced masticatory pattern between sides. In the maximal bite force test, the force between the sides also stayed balanced. It was concluded that occupational stress is present in this sample, but it does not correlate with the clinical findings of TMD and the electromyography examination of masticatory muscles in military personnel from the 5th CSM of the city of Ribeirão Preto/Brazil.

A hipertensÃo arterial tÃm sido considerada uma importante patologia para a saÃde pÃblica dada sua determinaÃÃo na ocorrÃncia de doenÃas cardiovasculares, notadamente, o infarto do miocÃrdio, a doenÃa vascular cerebral e a insuficiÃncia cardÃaca congestiva. VÃrios fatores de risco relacionados com a hipertensÃo arterial jà foram descritos, entretanto, em nosso Estado ainda à pouco conhecida a importÃncia relativa de cada um deles. Esse estudo teve como objetivo verificar a prevalÃncia e a importÃncia relativa de alguns fatores de risco clÃssicos da hipertensÃo arterial numa populaÃÃo adulta, de baixa renda, do Conjunto habitacional Metropolitano, Caucaia-CE na regiÃo metropolitana de Fortaleza, bem como medir a associaÃÃo entre trabalho domÃstico e hipertensÃo em mulheres. Foi realizado um inquÃrito casa a casa, em 760 domicÃlios de uma Ãrea contÃnua do bairro, quando entÃo foram entrevistados, feito exame antropomÃtrico e aferida a pressÃo arterial, de 1.248 indivÃduos de ambos os sexos, a partir de 30 anos de idade. Foi observada, uma prevalÃncia de hipertensÃo arterial de 23,96% (VI JNC) e 9,85% (OMS). A prevalÃncia de sobrepeso foi de 35,76% e de obesidade foi de 15,18%. As mulheres apresentaram um crescimento significativo da prevalÃncia do sobrepeso e obesidade com o aumento da idade, enquanto os homens nÃo apresentaram. Entre os indivÃduos com sobrepeso e obesidade, a prevalÃncia da hipertensÃo(VI JNC) foi 25,42% e 40,11% respectivamente. NÃo foi observada diferenÃa significativa na prevalÃncia da hipertensÃo entre os sexos. Uma maior renda familiar e maior nÃmero de anos na escola estavam associados significativamente a uma menor prevalÃncia de hipertensÃo arterial. Para medir a associaÃÃo entre trabalho domÃstico e hipertensÃo arterial em mulheres foi realizado um estudo caso controle, com 147 casos e 300 controles, na faixa etÃria de 30 a 55 anos de idade. Casos foram mulheres com PAD igual ou superior a 90 mm Hg e/ou PAS igual ou superior a 140 mm Hg. Controles foram mulheres com PAD inferior a 80 mm Hg e PAS inferior a 120 mmHg. O trabalho domÃstico foi medido em tempo gasto em horas/dia com as atividades de lavar, passar, cozinhar e limpar, alÃm de cuidados com crianÃas, idosos e doentes. Desse total, 99,0% (442) realizavam trabalho domÃstico em casa e 1,0% (5) disseram nÃo fazer qualquer tipo de atividade domÃstica em casa, 9,50% (42) exerciam trabalho domÃstico fora de casa (emprego domÃstico); 12,44% (55) exerciam trabalho nÃo domÃstico em casa (costurar, bordar, vender) e 13,57% (60) exerciam trabalho nÃo domÃstico fora de casa (comerciÃria, operÃria, balconista). Verificou-se associaÃÃo significativa entre realizar trabalho domÃstico fora de casa e hipertensÃo arterial (OR=2,17; IC 95%: 1,04 â 4,53) ajustada para as variÃveis idade, IMC, renda e horas de trabalho domÃstico em casa, que tambÃm apresentaram-se significativamente associadas à hipertensÃo. Os demais tipos de ocupaÃÃo nÃo apresentaram associaÃÃo significativa com a hipertensÃo, inclusive realizar trabalho domÃstico em casa. Esses resultados apontam para a importÃncia da obesidade na populaÃÃo adulta geral, enquanto fator passÃvel de intervenÃÃo, bem como estudos prospectivos especÃficos sobre ocupaÃÃo e hipertensÃo arterial em mulheres. / The High Blood Pressure has been considered to be one of the most important pathologies for the Public Health, due to its importance for the occurrence of the cardiovascular diseases, specially the heart attack, the vascular cerebral disease and the congestive cardiac insufficiency. Many risk factors related to the High Blood Pressure have been described in the literature. However, in our State, relative importance of each one of them is still little known. The aim of the present study was to verify the prevalence and the relative importance of some classic risk factor for the High Blood Pressure in an adult population with low income, as well as to measure the association between domestic work and High Blood Pressure in women. The study area was âThe Conjunto Habitacional Metropolitanoâ, a group of apartment blocks for low income people in the Municipality of Caucaia, Cearà State, Brazil. A survey was carried out, in house by house basis, in 760 households in a continuos area of the âConjunto Habitacional Metropolitanoâ. A total of 1,248 individuals of both sexes and thirty years old or older was enrolled in this survey. During the survey an interview was carried out, a anthopometric exam was conducted and the blood pressure of all individuals was measured. It was observed a prevalence of arterial blood pressure of 23,96% (VI JNC) and 9,85% (WHO). The prevalence of overweight was 35,76% and the obesity was of 15,18%. Women presented an significant increase on the prevalence of overweight and obesity as the age goes on. On the other hand, men did not show this increase. Among the individuals with overweigth and obesity, the prevalence of high blood pressure (VI JNC) was 25,42% in women and 40,11% in men. it was not observed any significant difference of high blood pressure between the sexes. A higher society level and a longer school live were associated with a smaller prevalence of arterial high blood pressure. To measure the association between the work done at home and high blood pressure in women, was executed a case-control study. It involved 147 cases and 300 controls. The average of age was of 30 to 55 years old. The cases were women whose PAD was equal or higher than 90 mm Hg and/or PAS was equal or higher than 140 mm Hg. The controls were women with PAD lower than 80 mm Hg and PAS lower than 120 mm Hg. The domestic work was measured in hours during the day. The activities studied were: wash, cook, clean, and care with children, oldies and people with disease. Form the total, 99,0% (442), did home work and 1% (5) said that they had no work at home, 9,50% (42) worked outside but still doing domestic work, 12,44% (55) do not practice domestic work at home. and 13,57% (60) do not practice domestic work outside (sellers, secretaries). It was verified a significant association between doing domestic work out of the house and High Blood Pressure (OR=2,17; CI 95%: 1,04 â 4,53) adjusted for the following variables: age, IMC, income and hours of domestic work at home. This variables have also shown to be significantly associated with High Blood Pressure. The other kinds of occupation did not show any significant association with High Blood Pressure, even domestic work at home. This findings point out to the importance of the obesity in the overall adult population, while a possible factor of intervention, as well as the need of prospective studies specifically to verify the association between occupation and High Blood Pressure in women.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / Academe is no longer a low stress profession caused by the changing nature of academic work. Academics in health professions perceived a considerable degree of pressure related to the many roles they need to assume such as, teaching, administration, research, and community service. In addition, they are expected to continue practicing in their profession. Research has identified the key stressors experienced by academics, have recorded the debilitating effects of occupational stress and have emphasised that stress left unmanaged can result in burnout. However, such studies on academic well-being and occupational stress are lacking within the South African context. Similarly, studies into the coping strategies used by academic staff and the impact of emotional intelligence on stress and coping remain a focus for further research. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to determine the relationship between occupational stress, coping and emotional intelligence among academic staff in health professions at a historically disadvantaged university. The study used an online survey design and the sampling frame comprised of all academic staff in a Faculty of Community and Health Sciences at a historically disadvantaged university. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrices and multiple regressions were used to analyse the data. Ethics clearance was obtained from the relevant university committee, and consent to conduct the study at the identified institution was given by the Registrar. As evidenced by the results, significant associations emerged between occupational stress, coping and emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence was identified as an essential factor that can predict the subjective well-being among academics.