Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine specific stressors and demands, perceived control, received support and stress management strategies of crisis managers (i.e. executives and supervisors of organizations involved in disaster response) in the context of large-scale missions. Design/methodology/approach – Totally, 31 semi-structured interviews with crisis managers were conducted in five European countries and analyzed with the qualitative text analysis method GABEK®. Findings – The sample reported high demands and various sources of stress, including event-specific stressors as well as group specific, occupational stressors such as responsibility for decision making, justification of failures or dealing with press and media. While possibilities for control were perceived as limited during large-scale missions, organizational and peer support played an important role in mitigating mission-related stress. Effective stress management strategies were reported as crucial to ensure successful crisis management, and a need for more comprehensive stress management trainings was emphasized. Originality/value – While stressors and coping strategies in first responders and emergency services personnel have been previously examined, corresponding research regarding the professional group of crisis management leaders remains scarce. Therefore, this study makes an important contribution by examining influential stressors within the work environment of crisis managers and by identifying starting points and requirements for stress management trainings and psychosocial support programs.
Highlights
Since several decades, the human and financial costs of occupational stress are well examined and documented and have been shown to relate to inefficiency, increased sick leave and accident rates, mental and somatic health symptoms, early retirement, and even premature death (e.g., Cox & Rial-González, 2002; EU-OSHA, 2014; Kaluza, 2015; Karasek & Theorell, 1990)
The experienced stress and stressors were further examined by analyzing the factors demand, control and support within the work environment of crisis managers according to the demandcontrol-support model (Karasek & Theorell, 1990; see section 3.2.4.1)
Psychosocial prevention and aftercare was provided for victims, families and crisis management personnel, who were reported to show reactions to stress, but rarely for crisis management leaders: Quotes representing the connections between the initial key term stress and the key terms psychosocial prevention and aftercare: “We provided group support to the fire fighters during the operation because one fire fighter had a textbook reaction to the stress.” [Kk5]
Summary
The human and financial costs of occupational stress are well examined and documented and have been shown to relate to inefficiency, increased sick leave and accident rates, mental and somatic health symptoms, early retirement, and even premature death (e.g., Cox & Rial-González, 2002; EU-OSHA, 2014; Kaluza, 2015; Karasek & Theorell, 1990). This study aimed at the qualitative, exploratory examination of perceived stress and burden, psychosocial work environment and related stressors, and stress management/coping strategies in crisis management leaders For this purpose, semi-structured, guideline-based interviews with crisis managers were conducted and analyzed with the qualitative text analysis program GABEK® WinRelan® to shed light on the following research questions: The aim was to gain important information for the development of the stress management training (which was realized within the scope of the PsyCris project; see section 2.2) about potential needs regarding the mitigation of avoidable stressors and the building of awareness for inevitable stressors in crisis management. In combination with the qualitative assessment of perceived stress, stressors, and stress management strategies of crisis managers within the scope of study 1, the quantitative examination of potential risk factors (e.g., work-related stress, demands, possibilities for control, perceived support, overall perceived stress, stress reactivity, and coping strategies) with regard to mental health in this target group aimed at a comprehensive understanding of stress and its potential consequences for crisis managers. GABEK (developed by Professor Zelger, 1990 - 2000) is a qualitative research and text analysis method that links opinions, knowledge, and experiences of different interviewed persons of (occupational) groups by filtering out the common key messages
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