Predictors of Stress Amongst Social Workers: An Empirical Study

Correspondence to Professor John Collings, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Leeds Metropolitan University Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK Summary Much of what is known about stress amongst social workers isanecdotal and there is a dearth of systematic research findingson the subject. This questionnaire study examined the perceptionsof work-related stress, and factors contributing to high andlow levels of stress, in a sample of 243 social workers drawnfrom four local authorities in northern England. The samplewas broadly based in terms of a range of personal backgroundfactors, and included social workers in urban, rural and semi-rurallocations. A measure of overall stress was constructed encompassingpsychological and physical aspects, and which permitted an analysisof the relative importance of predictor variables. A varietyof rating scales was used to assess aspects of the work environmentand perceived stressors. The most powerful predictor of overallstress that emerged related to the pressure involved in planningand reaching work targets. The study also identified certaincaseload and supervision-related predictors of stress, but,apart from age and marital status, personal background factorsseemed of weak predictive power. Social workers' perceptionsof their image in society seemed an additional source of pressure.The study findings suggest a need for combining organizationalwith individual oriented initiatives to combat stress.     

ANALYZING RENT CONTROL: THE CASE OF LOS ANGELES

An accurate assessment of the economic effects of a rent control law requires that both the specific provisions of the ordinance and the characteristics of the local housing market be considered. Examining the case of Los Angeles we conclude: First, most of the transfers from landlords to tenants were realized early in the law's life, while most of the economic cost of rent control was incurred later. Second, ordinance provisions aimed at increasing landlords' incentives to maintain rent-controlled dwellings also markedly reduce the size of the transfers to tenants. These results, we think, will apply to other jurisdictions.     

Property and 'Patriarchy' in English History

Abstract This article seeks to demonstrate that the gendered structuring of property relations in England can be understood in terms of the historical development of modes of production and reproduction. Society at the barbarian chiefdom, feudal, and capitalist stages of development is analysed. It is argued that gender relations within barbarian chiefdoms were contradictory, and that these contradictions had detrimental implications for women under feudalism. Given this historical legacy, it is then argued that the specificity of capitalist property rights laid the basis for the division of classes along the lines of gender.     

CAREER AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MANAGERIAL TECHNOSTRUCTURE IN CANADIAN BUSINESS

Cette étude est basée sur un sondage de 483 directeurs du rang le plus élevé dans 17 compagnies canadiennes de taille grande et moyenne. L‘étude, qui fait parti d'un ouvrage plus grand avec des objets différents, avait recherché des renseignments sur plusiers charactéristiques de fond de ces membres de la “technostructure,” et aussi sur le développement récent de leurs carrières. Les résultats ont indiqué qu'en général les directeurs canadiens sur les échelons les plus élevés sont pour la plupart masculins, et britanniques en nombres disproportionnés. Leur âge varie beaucoup. Leur scolarité varie en fonction de la taille des compagnies. Leur taux de mobilité sont plus bas que durant les années 60 et le début des années 70 et leur carrières se situent surtout dans les fonctions de ligne d'affaires dans les compagnies de taille moyenne. Les déviations de ces résultats étaient reliées à plusieurs variables économiques et technologiques. Les implications de ces résultats sur la mobilité future aux rangs supérieurs de la gestion sont discutées. This study is based on a survey of 483 upper level managers in 17 large and middle sized Canadian companies. The survey, made as a part of a larger study with different objectives, sought information on several background characteristics of these members of the “technostructure” as well as a history of their recent career development. Results indicated that in general Canadian upper managers are predominantly male, disproportionately British, widely varying in age and differentiated on the basis of company size as to their education. Their mobility rate is slowing down compared to the 1960s and early 1970s and their careers have been primarily in the main line functions of business especially in middle-sized companies. Variations in these general results were also found to be related to several economic and technological variables. The implications of these results for future mobility into upper management ranks are discussed.