Occupational stressors and its organizational and individual correlates: A nationwide study of Norwegian ambulance personnel

Tom Sterud,Erlend Hem,Bjørn Lau,Øivind Ekeberg

doi:10.1186/1471-227x-8-16

Tom Sterud, Erlend Hem + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-227x-8-16

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Abstract

BackgroundHigh levels of stress among ambulance personnel have been attributed to the conditions of ambulance work. However, there is little research to support this notion, and it has been questioned whether ambulance work is inherently stressful. We compared the severity and frequency level of organizational and ambulance-specific stressors, and studied their relationship to organizational conditions and individual differencesMethodsA comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of ambulance personnel (n = 1180) in operational duty. The questionnaire included the Job Stress Survey, the Norwegian Ambulance Stress Survey, the Basic Character Inventory, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and questions addressing organizational conditions.ResultsSerious operational tasks and physical demands were identified as the two most severe stressors. Lack of support from co-workers was the most severe and frequent organizational stressor. Higher frequency of stressors was most strongly associated with size of service districts (beta ranging between .18 and .30, p < .01) and working overtime (beta ranging from .13 to .27, p < .05). Stressor severity was related to lack of support after exposure to critical event (beta ranging from .11 to .24, p < .01) and working overtime. Neuroticism (beta ranging from .09 to .17, p < .01) and low general self-efficacy (beta ranging from -.12 to -.16, p < .001) were equally strongly related to severity of stressors, as were organizational conditions.ConclusionAmbulance-specific stressors were reported as both more severe and more frequently occurring stressors than were organizational stressors. Organizational working conditions were more strongly related to frequency of job stressors than were individual differences. In general, the relationship between occupational stressors and individual differences was weak.

Highlights

Research has indicated that ambulance personnel suffer from symptoms related to traumatic events, and experience more chronic stressors in their work than workers in other health service settings [1]
It is important to increase our understanding of the type of stressors that may increase the risk of psychological stress symptoms in ambulance personnel
A series of paired sampled t-tests were conducted to test the relative ratings of general organizational stressors and ambulance-specific stressors (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Research has indicated that ambulance personnel suffer from symptoms related to traumatic events, and experience more chronic stressors in their work than workers in other health service settings [1]. Others have claimed that ambulance work may not be inherently stressful, and that it is sources other than ambulance work, such as the 'managerial role', the 'relations with others at work', and the 'home and work relationship' which create pressure for ambulance personnel [5,2]. Research concerning both administrative-organizational and ambulance-specific stressors is sparse [6]. We compared the severity and frequency level of organizational and ambulance-specific stressors, and studied their relationship to organizational conditions and individual differences

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion