Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:
An exploratory and descriptive research design, in combination with quantitative and
qualitative research approaches were utilised to elucidate the experiences of newly
qualified social workers in NGOs, with regards to occupational stress and the coping
strategies employed by these workers in response. The motivation for this study
came from a distinct lack of research related to the experience of occupational stress
by newly qualified social workers working within NGOs. The goal of this study is thus
to gain a better understanding of the experiences of occupational stress by newly
qualified social workers practicing in NGOs, as well as elucidating the coping
strategies they employ, so as to make recommendations focussing on key areas,
where alleviation of occupational stress is vital.
The literature study first focussed on the South African NGO, and the newly qualified
social worker within the NGO, to provide a contextual basis for the experience of
occupational stress by newly qualified social workers. The literature study then
explored the range of occupational stressors that might be experienced by newly
qualified social workers, to gain a better understanding of the diversity of stressors
present within NGOs, and their aetiology. Lastly, the literature study focussed on the
variety of coping strategies available to newly qualified social workers, for coping
with, and alleviation of occupational stress.
The researcher utilises a purposive sample of 20 newly qualified social workers,
These workers had practiced for up to 24 months, in the Boland area of the Western
Cape. An interview schedule was used as measuring instrument.
The result of the investigation confirmed that particular occupational stressors
affecting newly qualified social workers Whilst there were a wide spectrum of
stressors experienced by newly qualified social workers on an occasional basis,
occupational stressors such as very heavy workloads, unsatisfactory remuneration
and the multivariate problems of the client population stood out as stressors
experienced on a very frequent basis. The second conclusion to be drawn from this
study was that personality traits may play less of a role than expected in determining how much newly qualified social workers experience occupational stress. The third
conclusion to be drawn from this study was that a wide range of coping strategies
were not only available to newly qualified social workers but that a great deal were
effective in helping newly qualified social workers to alleviate their occupational
stress.
Recommendations made by this study pointed to the importance of NGOs as well as
government targeting stressors such as heavy workloads and remuneration, with the
aim of retaining skilled social workers just entering into the industry. Another
recommendation focussed on the fact that newly qualified social workers have to
take ownership over their occupational stress, and actively work to alleviate it in a
positive manner. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:
‘n Verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp, sowel as 'n gekombineerde
kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is benut om die ervarings van
pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers in nie-regeringsorganisasies se werkstres
en streshanteringstrategieë te ondersoek. Die studie is gemotiveer deur 'n gebrek
aan navorsing oor die ervarings van werksverwante stres by pas gekwalifiseerde
maatskaplike werkers wat by NROs werksaam is. Die doel van die studie was dus
om 'n beter begrip vir die ervarings van werksverwante stres by pas gekwalifiseerde
maatskaplike werkers in NROs te ontwikkel, sowel as om die betrokke maatskaplike
werkers se streshanteringstrategieë te belig, ten einde aanbevelings te kan maak
oor sleutelareas waarop gefokus behoort te word in die verligting van werksverwante
stres.
Die literatuurstudie fokus op die NRO-sektor in Suid-Afrika en die pas
gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker, ten einde 'n kontekstuele grondslag vir die
ervarings van die betrokke maatskaplike werkers se stressors te bied. Die
literatuurstudie eksploreer voorts die reeks van stressors wat deur die betrokke
maatskaplike werkers ervaar kan word, ten einde 'n beter begrip van die diversiteit
van stressors en die etiologie van die stressors te ontwikkel. Die studie fokus ook op
die verskeidenheid strategieë wat beskikbaar is aan pas gekwalifiseerde
maatskaplike werkers, om hulle werksverwante stres te verminder.
Die navorser het 'n doelbeswuste steekproef van 20 pas gekwalifiseerde
maatskaplike werkers benut. Hierdie werkers is almal die afgelope 24 maande
werksaam in die Boland area van die Wes-Kaap. 'n Onderhoudskedule is as
navorsingsinstrument benut. Die bevindinge van die navorsing bevestig dat die pas
gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker wel spesifieke werksverwante stressors beleef.
Alhoewel 'n groot verskeidenheid stressors soms aanwesig is, kom werksverwante
stressors soos groot werksladings, onbevredigende numerering en die
verskeidenheid van die verbruikersisteem se probleme meer algemeen voor. Die
tweede bevinding vanuit hierdie studie dui daarop dat persoonlikheidstrekke speel
waarskynlik 'n mindere rol as wat verwag word, in die aanwesigheid van stres by die pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker. Die derde bevinding dui daarop dat 'n
groot verskeidenheid stresverligtingstrategieë beskikbaar is om werksverwante stres
te verlig en dat hierdie strategieë wel effektief aangewend kan word.
Die aanbevelings vanuit hierdie studie wys op die belangrikheid daarvan dat NRO's
en die regering stressors soos groot werksladings en numerering verlig, ten einde
pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers vir die praktyk te werf. Ander
aanbevelings fokus op die feit dat pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers
eienaarskap van hulle werksverwante stressors moet aanvaar deur aktief hulle
werkstres op 'n positiewe wyse te hanteer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2091 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Janse van Rensburg, Joseph |
| Contributors | Engelbrecht, L. K., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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