Stressors and Strains amongst Social Workers: Demands, Supports, Constraints, and Psychological Health

Correspondence to Fiona Jones, Hatfield Polytechnic, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts AL109AB. Summary This article describes an empirical study of the work stressorsand psychological strains experienced by social workers in Hertfordshire.A questionnaire, based on Payne's (1979) model of occupationalstress, investigated the perceived Demands, Supports, and Constraintsof the work, including threats and violence in addition to moresubjective perceptions of pressure. The research aimed to establishthe extent and nature of stress amongst social workers and topinpoint the specific features of the work which are associatedwith particularly poor levels of psychological health. It alsoaimed to suggest possible courses of action to alleviate excessivepressure. The research showed that while the social workers found theirjob satisfying, they perceived the work as very pressured andfelt that the pressure adversely affected the service they provided.The psychological health measures indicated that levels of generalanxiety were particularly high. The most highly stressed workersperceived their jobs as more demanding and less supportive andestimated that they took twice as much sick leave. Certain specificdemands and supports were shown to be important in predictingpsychological health. Various recommendations are made aimedat alleviating strain by reducing demands and constraints andincreasing supports.