Potential Predictors Of Perceived Stress In Helping Profession

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore perceived stress of an individual working in the helping profession, potential predictors and mediators of this stress. The study examines the effect of past traumatic experience, perceived mental pain, adult attachment behavior and their contribution toward present perceived stress in psychologists and social workers. A potentially preventive role of secure adult attachment and self-regulation of self-care in resulting stress perception are being explored. The methods included the use of the adult attachment behavior - Experience in Close Relationships revised ECR-R (Fraley, 2000) instrument, Global Measure of Perceived stress (Cohen, Kamarck, Mermelstein, 1983), and Self-regulation of self-care (Hricová, Lovaš, in press). Other instruments used included Mental pain – Single item measure and Past traumatic experience – Single item used to measure frequency of strong negative incidents experienced before the individual started working in the helping profession. Hypotheses were tested on psychologists and social workers (n=160) using mediation models. Results suggest that a past traumatic experience predicts current mental pain perception. Professional helpers’ anxious dimension of adult attachment style partially mediates relationship between perceived mental pain and perceived stress. Avoidance dimension of adult attachment style is related to perceived stress indirectly, through self-regulation of self-care. Results of the study suggest indirect relationship between past traumatic experience and currently perceived stress.