How Do The Professional Social Workers Cope with Occupational Stress in A Non-Governmental Sector? : An Analysis at Organisational Level

Abstract

Background: Human care professionals’ deals with humans and their relations, which are multifaceted and so, encompass complications. Their occupation involves dealing with high emotional demand, which puts them in a stress and work conflicts. Objectives: To know the occupational stress levels, ways of coping among professional social workers (PSWs) working in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and to know the various interventions at the organisational level. Method and Material: With these objectives 92, professional social workers (PSWs) were selected randomly from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. To know stress levels, ways of coping and organisational interventions occupational stress index (OSI), coping checklist (CCL) and focused group discussions (FGD) were conducted respectively. Result and Conclusion: It was evident that PSWs’ from NGOs were using more of problem-focused coping along with the high use of seeking social support and distraction positive as their way as to combat their moderate stress levels. However, organisational interventions at four levels i.e. effective job redesign, promotion of constructive work environment, organisational services to balance workplace pressure, and infrastructure and resources were major suggestions which need to be carried out with due participation of professional social workers.