The importance of stress management is emphasized throughout this study as well as the need to cater stress management programmes to the unique needs of individuals. The possibility of introducing an animal-assisted stress management programme into the work environment is explored by means of a qualitative study in order to test out the feasibility of such an intervention. The positive physical and psychological effects animals have on humans has been extensively researched and reported. Eleven participants were randomly chosen from within the same department by means of purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were held with each participant and thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcribed interviews. Various themes were identified and explored with the most prominent highlighting the need for privacy, respect and connection. Although animals do have positive effects on some employees, there are individual differences that need to be considered. An electronic animal-assisted stress management intervention is recommended. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Afrikaans text / Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om die voorkoms en hantering van stressors en stres by welsynsorganisasies in die Boland streek te ondersoek ten einde aanbevelings aan die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies te maak met die oog op voorkoming en vermindering van stres in die werksplek. Vyftien (15) welsynsorganisasies en agtien (18) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek is by die ondersoek betrek. Slegs veertien (14) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwantitatiewe navorsing gerig en die navorsinginligting is met behulp van literatuurstudie en ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys bekom. Na aanleiding van die empiriese ondersoek is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat Maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek werkstres ervaar en dat die meeste privaat-; en staatswelsynsorganisasies nie oor programme vir die voorkoming van stres beskik nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies die verantwoordelikheid moet neem om stres in die werksplek te bestuur deur die daarstelling van stres voorkomingstrategieë. / The purpose of this research study was to investigate the occurrence of stressors and stress in the private-; as well as government welfare organisation in the Boland region and to make recommendations to the Management of welfare organisations regarding the prevention and decrease of stress in the workplace. Fifteen (15) welfare organisations with eighteen (18) social work managers were approached, but only fourteen (14) participated in the investigation. The research process was directed by quantitative research and research information being obtained through literature study and a structured questionnaire. With reference to the empirical study, it was established that social workers in the Boland region experience stress in the workplace and most of the welfare organisations do not have stress prevention programmes available for social work personnel. It is recommended that the Management of welfare organisations institute stress management programmes with the focus on management of stress through stress prevention strategies. / Social Work / M.A. (SS)

Afrikaans text / Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om die voorkoms en hantering van stressors en stres by welsynsorganisasies in die Boland streek te ondersoek ten einde aanbevelings aan die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies te maak met die oog op voorkoming en vermindering van stres in die werksplek. Vyftien (15) welsynsorganisasies en agtien (18) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek is by die ondersoek betrek. Slegs veertien (14) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwantitatiewe navorsing gerig en die navorsinginligting is met behulp van literatuurstudie en ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys bekom. Na aanleiding van die empiriese ondersoek is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat Maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek werkstres ervaar en dat die meeste privaat-; en staatswelsynsorganisasies nie oor programme vir die voorkoming van stres beskik nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies die verantwoordelikheid moet neem om stres in die werksplek te bestuur deur die daarstelling van stres voorkomingstrategieë. / The purpose of this research study was to investigate the occurrence of stressors and stress in the private-; as well as government welfare organisation in the Boland region and to make recommendations to the Management of welfare organisations regarding the prevention and decrease of stress in the workplace. Fifteen (15) welfare organisations with eighteen (18) social work managers were approached, but only fourteen (14) participated in the investigation. The research process was directed by quantitative research and research information being obtained through literature study and a structured questionnaire. With reference to the empirical study, it was established that social workers in the Boland region experience stress in the workplace and most of the welfare organisations do not have stress prevention programmes available for social work personnel. It is recommended that the Management of welfare organisations institute stress management programmes with the focus on management of stress through stress prevention strategies. / Social Work / M.A. (SS)

The importance of stress management is emphasized throughout this study as well as the need to cater stress management programmes to the unique needs of individuals. The possibility of introducing an animal-assisted stress management programme into the work environment is explored by means of a qualitative study in order to test out the feasibility of such an intervention. The positive physical and psychological effects animals have on humans has been extensively researched and reported. Eleven participants were randomly chosen from within the same department by means of purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were held with each participant and thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcribed interviews. Various themes were identified and explored with the most prominent highlighting the need for privacy, respect and connection. Although animals do have positive effects on some employees, there are individual differences that need to be considered. An electronic animal-assisted stress management intervention is recommended. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)