Development Of Coping Strategies Research Articles

Coping with COVID: pandemic narratives for Australian children

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic can be recognised as traumatic for the way in which its sudden and unexpected onset disrupted a sense of ordinary life for so many around the world. Adults, and far less so children, were unable to prepare for the danger of the rapidly spreading disease. As such, both were left vulnerable to the experience of trauma and anxiety that surrounds the threat of COVID. Whereas adults, however, have access to a range of resources and strategies for mental health protection, children of various ages need targeted resources to enable them to understand, prepare for, and come to terms with a trauma situation. A great deal of research exists around the value of children developing their own narratives as a means of coming to terms with trauma, such that storytelling is identified as a primary coping device. Similarly, literature exists that compares parental narratives of trauma with those of their children. Moreover, the use of the fairy tale as a cautionary tale has long been examined. What has not been established is the way in which contemporary multimedia narratives – such as television programmes, animations, and digital stories – can be used to develop coping strategies in children and to mitigate anxiety in young people experiencing global or collective trauma. This article examines a selection of such narratives produced for Australian children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a cross-disciplinary framework, this work considers how these resources can help (or hinder) mental health recovery in young children under the age of five, as well as strategies for best practice in the future development of trauma-informed resources for this age group.

Health-related quality of life in abdominal wall hernia: let’s ask patients what matters to them?

IntroductionQuality of Life (QoL) is an important consideration in patients with abdominal wall hernia (AWH). What matters to patients and their everyday experience living with AWH may depend on a variety of personal, psychological, social and environmental factors. At present, no study has addressed what is important to this particular group of patients by asking the patients themselves. This study aims to determine QoL from the patient’s perspective by examining the lived experience in this patient population.MethodsWe interviewed 15 patients with AWH until thematic saturation. The patients were purposively sampled from AWH clinic between February 2020 and June 2020 using topic guides and interview schedules. Verbatim interview transcripts were coded and analysed using NVivo12 software and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). We adhered to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).ResultsFifteen participants (8 men and 7 women) of age range 36–85 years, median 65 years, covering all Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) grades. Five superordinate themes were identified each with several subordinate themes, as follows: (1) body image (subthemes—‘changes to perceptions of self’ and ‘fears concerning perceptions of others’). (2) Mental health (subthemes—‘emotional responses’, ‘disruptions to previously solid aspects of identity’, ‘developing coping strategies’). (3) Symptoms (subthemes—‘managing pain’, ‘freedom of movement’, ‘restriction and adaptation of function’). (4) Interpersonal relationships (subthemes—‘difficulties socially connecting’ and ‘changes in sexual relations’). (5) Employment (subthemes—‘financial pressure’, ‘return to work issues’ and ‘costs to family’).ConclusionThis is the first phenomenological qualitative study in the field of AWH and presents a rich account of what is important to these patients in terms of QoL. Developed from the patients’ own words, the themes are interrelated and should shape our understanding of patients with AWH. This study provides qualitative examples of each theme. This study has identified new themes (body image, interpersonal relationships and employment) that are not incorporated in existing AWH-specific QoL instruments. This is important for surgeons because the study suggests that we are currently not capturing all data relevant to QoL in this specific patient group with current tools. The wider impact of this would be to help counsel patients and support them more holistically through the disease process and it's management. Further research is needed to generate a standardised AWH QoL instrument which incorporates bio-psycho-emotional–social themes important to patients, as identified by patients.

Sources and Coping Mechanisms of Anxiety and Stress among Surgeons – A Qualitative Study

Medical professionals are often exposed to demanding work conditions which may affect their mental as well as physical health. The aim of this study is to find out the various sources of anxiety and stress as well as the coping mechanisms among surgeons using qualitative approach of descriptive phenomenology. This study provides analysis of rich textual description of individual experiences of nine surgeons including six orthopaedic surgeons, two general surgeons and one plastic surgeon. In-depth qualitative interviews are conducted and transcribed. Thematic analysis is carried out on the text i.e. identification of codes, themes and sub-themes. A total of twenty-one sub-themes emerged under the three themes of ‘sources of anxiety’, ‘sources of stress’ and ‘coping mechanisms’. The study attempts to find out how these developed coping strategies have an impact on the ability of participants to deal with the problems in their personal life. The sources of anxiety and stress vary according to the phase in the profession such as medical training and practice as well as according to the economic, psychological and social state of the individual. Coping strategies developed by the participants help them to sustain and stand in the field. The study implies that there is a need of regular formal stress and anxiety management training for surgeons which eventually can help to increase longevity and quality of their work life. Keywords: anxiety, stress, sources, coping mechanisms, surgeons, phenomenology

Organizational Drivers of Burnout and Work Engagement: A Multilevel Study in Portuguese Firefighter Brigades.

In this study, we analyzed how organization-level demands and organizational-level social support relate to the core dimensions of burnout and work engagement, controlling for individual resources (i.e., proactive coping) and demands (i.e., acute demands) using the Job Demands-Resources Theory. In a sample of 1487 Portuguese firefighters nested within 70 fire brigades, hierarchical linear modeling indicated that: (1) proactive coping was related to lower burnout and higher work engagement, whereas acute demands were related to higher burnout and lower work engagement (for vigor only); (2) proactive coping moderated the relationship between acute demands and vigor; and (3) unexpectedly, social support from colleagues was not related to firefighters’ well-being, whereas organization-level demands were related to higher burnout and lower work engagement. These results suggest the need to implement practices and policies to guarantee the relevant conditions for improving the well-being of firefighters, to develop coping strategies in a proactive way, and finally, to enhance support from colleagues.

Spiritual aspects of the family caregivers' experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Being a caregiver of a relative with severe mental illness often impacts the quality of life, physical and mental health. The use of coping strategies related to spirituality can enhance physical and mental well-being. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This review found 26 primary studies that refer to spiritual aspects of the experience of caring for a relative with mental health problems. Caregivers express spiritual needs, such as hope and finding meaning in life, and spiritual or religious practices that help to cope with stressful situations. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Spiritual needs and spiritual coping strategies of family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness should be included in mental health nursing care. A spiritually sensitive approach should be used when promoting coping strategies of the family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness. ABSTRACT: Introduction Deinstitutionalization of individuals with severe mental illness transferred the responsibility of care to the relatives who need to adapt their personal life. Caregivers often develop coping strategies which involve the relationship with oneself, others, or the transcendent/God or nature and may include religious/spiritual practices. Question/Aim This review aims to identify the spiritual aspects of the family caregivers' experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness. Method The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Search was conducted in March 2019, updated in August 2020, limited to English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results A total of 26studies were included. Two synthesized findings emerged: spiritual coping strategies are used by family caregivers; spiritual needs are expressed by family caregivers. The findings are based on the experiences of 467 caregivers, from 14 countries. Discussion In stressful times, family caregivers question the meaning in life and acknowledge hopelessness. To cope, caregivers mention a turn to the sacred and the use of spiritual/religious practices. Implications for practice Spirituality should be considered according to caregivers' individual beliefs and needs, as may represent important resources for the sense of meaning and overall well-being.

"Drunk People Are on a Different Level": A Qualitative Study of Reflections From Students About Transitioning and Adapting to United Kingdom University as a Person Who Drinks Little or No Alcohol.

BackgroundThough sobriety in young people is on the rise, students who drink little or no alcohol may experience social exclusion at University, impacting well-being. We aim to understand the social experiences of United Kingdom (UK) undergraduate students who drink little or no alcohol.MethodsA mixed-methods study using semi-structured, one-to-one interviews and the 24-Item Social Provisions Scale and Flourishing Scale with 15 undergraduate students who drink little or no alcohol. Descriptive statistics are presented for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative.ResultsEight main themes and four subthemes were generated from thematic analysis summarised in two sections ‘views of drinkers from non-drinkers’ and ‘how peer pressure feels and how people deal with it.’ The initial transition to University represented a challenge, where participants struggled to find their ‘true’ friends. However, students generally had high levels of social provision, well-being and enjoyed close friendships with fewer casual acquaintances. All students experienced some kind of peer pressure (of a varying extremity) and developed coping strategies when in social situations involving alcohol. Fear of missing out on the ‘typical’ University experience heightened self-imposed expectations to drink. Despite participants acknowledging their counter-normative behaviour, some felt they were subject to stigmatisation by drinkers, doubting their non-drinker status, causing feelings of exclusion or being ‘boring.’ Their desire to ‘be like everyone else’ exposed some insight into the negative stereotypes of sobriety, including frustration behind alcohol’s status elevation.ConclusionStudents adopt strategies to minimise peer pressure and to fit in. Future research should interrogate drinkers’ perceptions of their sober peers to deepen understanding, better break down ‘us and them,’ and mitigate future expectations within the University drinking culture.

P210 Assessment of disease specific knowledge and quality of life among patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract that leads to a marked decrease in quality of life. Patients should develop coping strategies. Higher levels of IBD-related knowledge are associated with lower disease-related helthcare costs and less need for a step-up strategy. Aims To determine individual factors influencing the level of patient knowledge and whether this has an impact on therapeutic adherence and quality of life. Methods The IBD-KNOW, Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) questionnaires were applied to IBD patients who were consecutively assessed at outpatient consultation or day-care hospital. Factors associated with higher levels of knowledge about IBD were analysed Results We included 74 patients (male: 51%; median age: 46 years [interquartile range (IQR): 25–67]), 54% (n=40) had Crohn’s Disease. The median duration of IBD was 5 years (IQR: 1–16 years). Physicians/nurses (n=67) and the internet (n=26) were considered the main sources of knowledge. Median IBD-KNOW score was 13 (IQR: 7–19), the percentage of correct answers was highest in the areas of vaccination (78%), epidemiology (43%) and anatomy (27%) and lowest in knowledge regarding reproduction (21%), lifestyle (21%), physiology (14%) and surgery (14%). Most patients (68%, n= 53) know that IBD with several years of evolution is a risk factor for colorectal cancer and recognize the importance of screening. The IBD-KNOW median score was statistically significantly higher in patients with previous hospitalisation (p=0.01), bowel surgery (p=0.04) and disease with more than 5 years of evolution (p=0.04). No differences were identified according to educational level. Patients adherent to therapy (MMAS-8=8) did not present higher scores (p=0.09) and no positive correlation was found between IBD-KNOW score and SIBDQ (p=0.415). Conclusion A longer duration of disease and previous hospitalisation/surgery related to the disease were associated with a higher level of knowledge. There was no association between quality of life and therapeutic adherence and level of knowledge. The authors intend to use this analysis to target future promotion of health education programmes to address the areas with the greatest knowledge deficits.

Health-related fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic: perceived trust and information search

PurposeHealth-related online fake news (HOFN) has become a major social problem. HOFN can lead to the spread of ineffective and even harmful remedies. The study aims to understand Internet users' responses to HOFN during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic using the protective action decision model (PADM).Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected pandemic severity data (regional number of confirmed cases) from government websites of the USA and China (Studies 1 and 2), search behavior from Google and Baidu search engines (Studies 1 and 2) and data regarding trust in two online fake news stories from two national surveys (Studies 2 and 3). All data were analyzed using a multi-level linear model.FindingsThe research detected negative time-lagged relationships between pandemic severity and regional HOFN search behavior by three actual fake news stories from the USA and China (Study 1). Importantly, trust in HOFN served as a mediator in the time-lagged relationship between pandemic severity and search behavior (Study 2). Additionally, the relationship between pandemic severity and trust in HOFN varied according to individuals' perceived control (Study 3).Originality/valueThe authors' results underscore the important role of PADM in understanding Internet users' trust in and search for HOFN. When people trust HOFN, they may seek more information to implement further protective actions. Importantly, it appears that trust in HOFN varies with environmental cues (regional pandemic severity) and with individuals' perceived control, providing insight into developing coping strategies during a pandemic.

Biomimetic mimicry of formaldehyde-induced DNA-protein crosslinks in the confined space of a metal-organic framework.

DNA–protein crosslinks (DPCs) are highly toxic DNA lesions induced by crosslinking agents such as formaldehyde (HCHO). Building artificial models to simulate the crosslinking process would advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and therefore develop coping strategies accordingly. Herein we report the design and synthesis of a Zn-based metal–organic framework with mixed ligands of 2,6-diaminopurine and amine-functionalized dicarboxylate, representing DNA and protein residues, respectively. Combined characterization techniques allow us to demonstrate the unusual efficiency of HCHO-crosslinking within the confined space of the titled MOF. Particularly, in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal a sequential methylene-knitting process upon HCHO addition, along with strong fluorescence that was not interfered with by other metabolites, glycine, and Tris. This work has successfully constructed a purine-based metal–organic framework with unoccupied Watson–Crick sites, serving as a crystalline model for HCHO-induced DPCs by mimicking the confinement effect of protein/DNA interactions.

Chasing the conversation: Autistic experiences of speech perception.

Humans communicate primarily through spoken language and speech perception is a core function of the human auditory system. Among the autistic community, atypical sensory reactivity and social communication difficulties are pervasive, yet the research literature lacks in-depth self-report data on speech perception in this population. The present study aimed to elicit detailed first-person accounts of autistic individuals' abilities and difficulties perceiving the spoken word. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine autistic adults. The interview schedule addressed interviewees' experiences of speech perception, factors influencing those experiences, and responses to those experiences. Resulting interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis. The six-person study team included two autistic researchers, to reduce risk of neurotypical 'overshadowing' of autistic voices. Most interviewees reported pronounced difficulties perceiving speech in the presence of competing sounds. They emphasised that such listening difficulties are distinct from social difficulties, though the two can add and interact. Difficulties were of several varieties, ranging from powerful auditory distraction to drowning out of voices by continuous sounds. Contributing factors encompassed not only features of the soundscape but also non-acoustic factors such as multisensory processing and social cognition. Participants also identified compounding factors, such as lack of understanding of listening difficulties. Impacts were diverse and sometimes disabling, affecting socialising, emotions, fatigue, career, and self-image. A wide array of coping mechanisms was described. The first in-depth qualitative investigation of autistic speech-perception experiences has revealed diverse and widespread listening difficulties. These can combine with other internal, interpersonal, and societal factors to induce profound impacts. Lack of understanding of such listening difficulties - by the self, by communication partners, by institutions, and especially by clinicians - appears to be a crucial exacerbating factor. Many autistic adults have developed coping strategies to lessen speech-perception difficulties or mitigate their effects, and these are generally self-taught due to lack of clinical support. There is a need for carefully designed, adequately powered confirmatory research to verify, quantify, and disentangle the various forms of listening difficulty, preferably using large samples to explore heterogeneity. More immediate benefit might be obtained through development of self-help and clinical guidance materials, and by raising awareness of autistic listening experiences and needs, among the autistic community, communication partners, institutions, and clinicians.

Teachers’ Stress, Coping Strategies, and Job Satisfaction in COVID-induced Teaching Environments.

School based agricultural education has long been associated with teacher stress, burnout, and attrition, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has likely exacerbated these conditions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the differences in Arkansas SBAE teachers’ stress, coping strategies, and job satisfaction based on teaching environment, and demographic variables during the pandemic. Results showed that respondents experienced fatigue, frustration, worrying, forgetfulness, and impatience, and that these symptoms of stress along with related sources of pressure were negatively correlated with job satisfaction. However, teaching environment resulting from the pandemic was not shown to predict job satisfaction. Nonetheless, results showed that teaching is stressful regardless of situation, and respondents who utilized coping strategies were found to have higher levels of job satisfaction. Therefore, we recommend that administrators work with teachers to develop coping strategies for dealing with stress.

Responding to housing precarity: the coping strategies of generation rent

Across advanced economies, a new generation of renters are confronting a suite of social and economic precarities with respect to housing, employment and welfare. Unaffordable rents, insecure tenancies and poor-quality accommodation are emblematic of these contemporary insecurities. However, the experiences of such renters and their responses to housing hardships remain under-explored in the Generation Rent literature. Drawing on a qualitative study (n = 28) of renters from Dublin (Ireland), this paper examines the ways people develop coping strategies to respond to their housing difficulties, or at least minimise their adverse effects. The analysis shows that young renters are far from passive victims. Even though they faced significant pressures regarding housing affordability, security, quality and access, they worked hard to maintain their homes. The findings illustrate how people respond to difficult housing circumstances by adopting a range of expenditure, employment and housing-related responses. It also shows how such experiences impact upon social identity, family relations and psycho-social health.

An Exploration of Online Support Community Participation Among Patients With Vestibular Disorders.

To formally document online support community (OSC) use among patients with vestibular symptoms and gain an appreciation for the perceived influence of participation on psychosocial outcomes and the impact on medical decision-making. Self reported internet-based questionnaire. The Facebook search function was paired with a comprehensive list of vestibular diagnoses to systematically collect publicly available information on vestibular OSCs. Next, a survey was designed to gather clinicodemographic information, OSC characteristics, participation measures, perceived outcomes, and influence on medical decision-making. The anonymous instrument was posted to two OSCs that provide support for patients with general vestibular symptoms. Seventy-three OSCs were identified with >250,000 cumulative members and >10,000 posts per month. The survey was completed by 549 participants, a cohort of primarily educated middle-aged (median=50, interquartile range 40-60), non-Hispanic white (84%), and female (89%) participants. The participants' most cited initial motivation and achieved goal of participants was to hear from others with the same diagnosis (89% and 88%, respectively). Daily users and those who reported seeing ≥5 providers before receiving a diagnosis indicated that OSC utilization significantly influenced their requested medical treatments (72% daily vs. 61% nondaily, P=.012; 61% <5 providers vs. 71% ≥5 providers P=.019, respectively). Most participants agreed that OSC engagement provides emotional support (74%) and helps to develop coping strategies (68%). Membership of ≥1 year was associated with a higher rate of learned coping skills (61% membership <1-year vs. 71% ≥1-year P=.016). The use of OSCs is widespread among vestibular diagnoses. A survey of two OSCs suggests these groups provide a significant source of peer support and can influence users' ability to interface with the medical system. NA Laryngoscope, 132:1835-1842, 2022.

Trans peoples’ experiences of survival whilst accessing healthcare and psychological services during transition

BackgroundThis research explores trans people’s experiences of healthcare and psychological services in the UK. The project aims to further inform Counselling Psychologists and other professionals of the specific needs of this client group.MethodologySemi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants. The data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).FindingsThree master themes emerged from the analysis. This paper focuses on the master theme ‘Survival’, as it is most pertinent to applied psychologists. This theme explores trans people’s experiences of developing coping strategies to manage the difficulties associated with transition and negotiating healthcare. Strategies included developing resilience and assertiveness, building a social support network, and finding the right therapist.DiscussionImplications for clinical practice are discussed. Specifically, the need for training and education, a trans affirmative stance, and the potential usefulness of CBT interventions to facilitate the development of relevant coping strategies.*All names and identifying biographical details have been changed or omitted to ensure confidentiality

How Do Teleworkers and Organizations Manage the COVID-19 Crisis in Brazil? The Role of Flexibility I-Deals and Work Recovery in Maintaining Sustainable Well-Being at Work.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the economic market and labor contexts worldwide. Brazil has suffered one of the worst social and governmental managements of the COVID-19 crisis, forcing workers and organizations to develop coping strategies. This environment can affect both well-being and performance at work. Sustainable well-being at work refers to different patterns of relationships between performance and well-being. It may include eudaimonic (e.g., Meaning of Work—MOW) or hedonic (e.g., emotions) forms of well-being. This study tests the moderating role of recovery from work stress in the relationship between flexibility i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work in Brazilian teleworkers. We relied on two studies to achieve this objective. In Study 1, conducted during the pandemic’s first outbreak in Brazil (N = 386), recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and clusters formed by performance and MOW (eudaimonic happiness). In Study 2, conducted during the second outbreak (N = 281), we identified relationships between clusters of emotions (hedonic happiness) and MOW (eudaimonic) with performance. The results supported the idea that recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work differently. Our findings have implications for Human Resource Management and teleworkers, especially for employee behaviors to deal with stress.

Fatherhood and Depression: Dealing with Depression in the Family from the Fathers' Perspective - A Qualitative Study

Investigation of the experiences of depressed fathers in dealing with their depressive disorder in the family. 17 semi-structured narrative interviews were conducted and analyzed following a Grounded Theory Approach. Fathers describe individual coping strategies in dealing with their depressive disorder that aim at independently coping from their family (self-management, [non])disclosure of the disorder). Fathers should be supported in (the decision-making process of) disclosing their illness to the family and developing coping strategies that take family needs further into account.

Shift work tolerance.

Shift work is widespread due to 24-h work in many occupations. Understanding differences in individual shift work tolerance (SWT) can help develop coping strategies for shift workers. This in-depth qualitative review elucidates the architecture of SWT, providing an overview of the research advances in the last decade (2011-2021). We searched Google Scholar, PubMed and Medline for different word combinations concerning SWT. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for the potential genetic basis of SWT were additionally searched in GWAS Central and GWAS Catalogue. Eleven new studies were published since 2011, with the proportion of longitudinal studies on SWT having more than doubled in the past decade. They consolidate prior findings (e.g. hardiness most consistently associated with SWT) and discovered additional aspects of SWT like resistance to change and job stress. The 15 large-scale GWAS identified, most of which using UK Biobank (UKB) and 23andMe data, involved mapped genes showing overlap especially within analysis of the same phenotype (e.g. PER2/3 for morningness, PAX8 for sleep duration and LINGO1 for neuroticism). Individual GWAS for additional traits such as resilience have also been published though assessments of gene overlap are not yet possible. Progress regarding longitudinal studies on SWT has been made though a more consistent definition of SWT remains crucial for future research. Non-genetic studies on SWT suggest several important traits and factors; many of which have now also been explored using GWAS. Such evidence could serve as basis for individualized risk prediction and disease prevention approaches for night-shift workers.

Emotional exhaustion in Peruvian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID 19 pandemic has caused the teaching-learning modality to go from being face-to-face to being virtual, which has forced students to adapt to this new scenario, however, despite the fact that this modality has favorable aspects, it also it has had implications in the socio-emotional aspect. Therefore, the present research aimed to describe the emotional exhaustion in Peruvian students from a private university during the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach was quantitative, the design was non-experimental, and the type was descriptive, transectional. The sample consisted of 265 students, to whom the Emotional Tiredness Scale was applied, an instrument with required levels of validity and reliability. The results found indicate that the students presented high levels of emotional exhaustion (39.4%) and it was determined that some sociodemographic variables such as sex and age were significantly associated with this condition (p&lt;0.05). It was concluded that it is necessary for the University's Psychology area to detect students with high levels of emotional exhaustion in a timely manner so that they receive treatment and can improve their academic performance and quality of life. On the other hand, students should be encouraged to develop coping strategies for stressful situations, typical of academic life and the context of pandemic.

Recognising stressors and managing stress in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province primary schools

Orientation: Knowledge of work-related stressors which trigger an avalanche of stress-related illnesses is crucial if teachers are to successfully manage stressful situations in their workplaces. Research purpose: The purpose of this research study was to gain a deeper understanding of the potential causes of stress in primary schools with the intention of suggesting coping strategies to deal with it. Motivation of the study: Teachers who were successful in managing stressful situations in their workplaces were able to enhance their creativity, productivity, efficiency and effectiveness, consequentially the organisation and learners being the net beneficiaries. Research approach/design and method: Post-positivism informed the quantitative approach employed. A cross-sectional survey design utilising a standardised questionnaire was used to collect data from 87 qualified and experienced teachers who were systematically sampled. The concept of stress was examined first followed by the identification of stressors. Resultantly, coping strategies to remedy stressful situations experienced were proffered. Main results: The study revealed that primary school teachers were conscious of what stress entails, its consequences for themselves and the organisation, the potential stressors which were likely to hinder their job performance or cause stress related illnesses, and ways of dealing with them. Practical and management implications: Participative management was suggested when engaging teachers in job-related decisions so as to avoid overloading them beyond their expectations and capacities to avert stressful encounters. Contribution/value-add: The teachers’ knowledge of how negative stressors reduce their production levels at their workplaces enables them to develop coping strategies to deal with the stressors head-on.

Trust upset: Redefining the terms of trust in maintaining exchange relations

In contractual relations, malfeasance is subject to sanction by formal institutions. Trust is widely held to be an informal basis of non-contractual exchange, in which breaches of trust lead to exposure, resulting in the perpetrator’s loss of reputation and likely exclusion from future exchanges. The present article, on the other hand, shows that breaches of trust may lead to neither of these outcomes. Interview data reported here show that individuals who experience violations of agreement may develop coping strategies that do not include exposure of betrayal, confronting the trust-breaker, or retaliation. A contribution of the present article is to show that these differences can be conceptualized as involving two possible strategies by the betrayed party: one involving retaliation, directed to public disclosure of the betrayer’s unreliability and possible expulsion from future exchanges; the other is self-management, in which betrayal leads to the betrayed modifying their expectations and behaviour. A second contribution is to show how trust may be sociologically understood as a continuous process, requiring renegotiation, rearticulation, and even redefinition, rather than as a resolved and final commitment.