© British Association of Social Workers
Stressors and Strains amongst Social Workers: Demands, Supports, Constraints, and Psychological Health
Fiona Jones took degrees in Social Administration and Applied Social Studies at the Universities of Nottingham and Brunel, before working for some years as a social worker in Cambridge and Hertfordshire. While working as a social worker she studied part time for a Diploma in Psychology at the City of London Polytechnic and an M.Sc. in Occupational Psychology at Hatfield Polytechnic. She is currently a research assistant in psychology at Hatfield Polytechnic.
Ben (C.) Fletcher received his first degree in Psychology from Keele University, and his D.Phil, from the Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University. He worked as a research fellow at MRC Social and Applied Psychology Unit, Sheffield University until 1979, and is currently Head of the Psychology Division at Hatfield Polytechnic. He has published numerous papers in the field of occupational stress.
Keith Ibbetson received a degree in Sociology from Kent University and an M.Sc. in Social Work from the London School of Economics. He has worked as a residential social worker in Lambeth and as a field social worker in Hertfordshire. He is currently a Senior Social Worker (Child Protection) in the London Borough of Islington.
Correspondence to Fiona Jones, Hatfield Polytechnic, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts AL109AB.
Summary
This article describes an empirical study of the work stressors and psychological strains experienced by social workers in Hertfordshire. A questionnaire, based on Payne's (1979) model of occupational stress, investigated the perceived Demands, Supports, and Constraints of the work, including threats and violence in addition to more subjective perceptions of pressure. The research aimed to establish the extent and nature of stress amongst social workers and to pinpoint the specific features of the work which are associated with particularly poor levels of psychological health. It also aimed to suggest possible courses of action to alleviate excessive pressure.
The research showed that while the social workers found their job satisfying, they perceived the work as very pressured and felt that the pressure adversely affected the service they provided. The psychological health measures indicated that levels of general anxiety were particularly high. The most highly stressed workers perceived their jobs as more demanding and less supportive and estimated that they took twice as much sick leave. Certain specific demands and supports were shown to be important in predicting psychological health. Various recommendations are made aimed at alleviating strain by reducing demands and constraints and increasing supports.
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