Occupational stressors of newly qualified social workers in non-governmental organisations : experiences and coping strategies

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:An exploratory and descriptive research design, in combination with quantitative andqualitative research approaches were utilised to elucidate the experiences of newlyqualified social workers in NGOs, with regards to occupational stress and the copingstrategies employed by these workers in response. The motivation for this studycame from a distinct lack of research related to the experience of occupational stressby newly qualified social workers working within NGOs. The goal of this study is thusto gain a better understanding of the experiences of occupational stress by newlyqualified social workers practicing in NGOs, as well as elucidating the copingstrategies 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 qualifiedsocial worker within the NGO, to provide a contextual basis for the experience ofoccupational stress by newly qualified social workers. The literature study thenexplored the range of occupational stressors that might be experienced by newlyqualified social workers, to gain a better understanding of the diversity of stressorspresent within NGOs, and their aetiology. Lastly, the literature study focussed on thevariety of coping strategies available to newly qualified social workers, for copingwith, 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 WesternCape. An interview schedule was used as measuring instrument.The result of the investigation confirmed that particular occupational stressorsaffecting newly qualified social workers Whilst there were a wide spectrum ofstressors experienced by newly qualified social workers on an occasional basis,occupational stressors such as very heavy workloads, unsatisfactory remunerationand the multivariate problems of the client population stood out as stressorsexperienced on a very frequent basis. The second conclusion to be drawn from thisstudy was that personality traits may play less of a role than expected in determining how much newly qualified social workers experience occupational stress. The thirdconclusion to be drawn from this study was that a wide range of coping strategieswere not only available to newly qualified social workers but that a great deal wereeffective in helping newly qualified social workers to alleviate their occupationalstress.Recommendations made by this study pointed to the importance of NGOs as well asgovernment targeting stressors such as heavy workloads and remuneration, with theaim of retaining skilled social workers just entering into the industry. Anotherrecommendation focussed on the fact that newly qualified social workers have totake ownership over their occupational stress, and actively work to alleviate it in apositive manner.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University