The analysis of contexts of coping with stress, experienced by social welfare professionals: experience of Lithuania and Scandinavian countries

Daiva Alifanovienė,Odeta Šapelytė,Darius Gerulaitis

doi:10.21277/sw.v2i7.315

Abstract

 The article deals with stress and coping with the stress experienced by social welfare professionals in different social and cultural context. The comparison of inter-professional stressogenity shows that the greatest stress is experienced by the representatives of social sphere professions. The main aim of the article is to disclose the contexts of possibilities for coping with stress experienced by social welfare professionals in Lithuania and Scandinavian countries. Specialists’ (N=12) experience was analysed employing the qualitative data collection method (semi-structured written interview), using open-ended questions according to assessment areas foreseen by the researchers. Reconstructing the context of coping with stress experienced by specialists of social welfare professions of these countries, certain differences showed up: Lithuanian social welfare professionals use the most affordable ways for stress coping in the intrapersonal (physical and emotional) area. Due to a more favourable socio-economic situation in the country, Scandinavian informants have a wider range of stress management possibilities in terms of affordability, content and choice.

Highlights

The analysis of the context of stress, its features and coping possibilities is a multidisciplinary concept that is relevant both in everyday life practice and for scientists ofThis article has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union
The research aim is to disclose the contexts of possibilities for coping with stress experienced by social welfare professionals in Lithuania and Scandinavian countries
The Analysis of Research Results In the course of the research, we analysed the possibilities of coping with the stress experienced by specialists of social welfare professions in Lithuania and Scandinavian countries (Sweden) in the contexts of their subjective experiences

Summary

Introduction

The analysis of the context of stress, its features and coping possibilities is a multidisciplinary concept that is relevant both in everyday life practice and for scientists of. The analysis of subjective experiences of social welfare professionals in Lithuania and Scandinavian countries (Sweden) enables to disclose that professionals try to cope with stress in their professional activities at different levels: intrapersonal individual (N=26) or interpersonal social-group level (N=10) and choose a constructive way directed towards solution of the problem (N=7) or a retreat from the problem (N=3) (Pikūnas & Palujanskienė, 2005; Kriukova, 2010; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The subjective analysis of the coping with stress experienced by the specialists of social welfare professions enabled to distinguish the context of simulation of the solution of stressful situations (N=17), which is disclosed by several subcategories: distinguishing of priorities, situation analysis, application of methods, assistance of health and other specialists, colleagues’assistance, support This group of generalised semantic units highlights informants’ cognitive efforts to analyse the situation, use appropriate methods, disassociate from secondary matters (“I pick out the first things”, “I use the “aquarium” technique”). Simulation of solutions of stressful situations presupposes the professional’s actions directed to the solution of the problem, which can change the relation between the person who has a problem and the environment (Lazarus, 2000, Valickas, Grakauskas, & Želvienė, 2010)

Conclusions

Summary