Professional Stress Research Articles

The Corrosive Effect of School Administrators as Toxic Leaders on Teacher Accountability

Purpose: To examine teachers' views on the corrosive effect of toxic leadership behaviours of school administrators on teacher accountability. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study group of this research, which uses phenomenology as a qualitative research design, was selected using maximum variation sampling method, which is a type of purposive sampling. This group consists of 20 teachers working in 10 public schools in the central district of Isparta. Data were collected from the teachers through a semi-structured interview form. The collected qualitative data were subjected to contextual analysis through MAXQDA software and visualised. The findings show that the majority of teachers reported that toxic leadership has a detrimental effect on teacher accountability. Findings: Toxic leaders, characterised by behaviours such as micromanagement, lack of empathy, and aggressive communication, were found to cause teacher demotivation, alienation, and professional burnout. In addition, toxic leaders erode teacher accountability by creating a negative and insecure organisational climate. Highlights: Toxic leadership behaviours of school administrators are a critical factor that significantly affects teacher accountability. The various dimensions of this impact are as follows: Decreased teacher motivation, psychological safety and job satisfaction, decreased performance and productivity, impeded professional development, stress and burnout. In addition to these, toxic leadership has a negative impact on school climate. A negative school climate leads to a decrease in teachers' willingness to cooperate and be accountable. This can also negatively impact student achievement because lack of co-operation and support among teachers reduces the quality of education. Therefore, it is important for school administrators to exhibit more positive and supportive leadership behaviours to increase teachers' motivation and strengthen their accountability.

The role of immuno-mediated dysregulation in the progression of allergic pathology in military personnel under occupational stress

In order to identify clinical and immunological predictors of the progression of allergopathology in military personnel participating in special operations under conditions of professional stress, 43 military personnel participating in special operations divided into two groups were examined. Group 1 consisted of officers with allergopathology or who first debuted symptoms of allergic diseases during or within 6 months after participating in special operations (n = 13, average age 36.4±4.5 years). Group 2 included officers participating in special operations who did not have symptoms of allergic diseases (n = 13, average age 36.4±4.5 years). The analysis of complaints and medical documentation were carried out. Clinical and laboratory examination was performed without exacerbation of somatic pathology. The immune status was assessed by the expression of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD19+, HLA-DR+, intracellular FoxP3 content in CD4+CD25+T cells, granzyme B in CD3-CD16+ and CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes using appropriate monoclonal antibodies (Beckman Coulter) and taking into account the results on the cytofluorometer “FC 500”. Immunological monitoring was performed before participation in hostilities and 6 months after return. A comparative assessment of the cellular and humoral state of military personnel of both comparison groups before leaving for an area with an unfavorable operational situation revealed the following differences. In the group of military personnel with allergic manifestations, significantly fewer CD4+ lymphocytes were noted, as well as significantly fewer CD3+CD4+CD25+FoxP3 regulatory lymphocytes and an increase in the number of circulating B lymphocytes were recorded. When dynamically monitoring the parameters of the cellular and humoral immune response in military personnel participating in hostilities, 6 months after returning from a business trip to areas with an unfavorable operational situation, unidirectional changes in the immune status were recorded in the form of a violation of the differentiation processes of the T cell link of the immune system. In the group of servicemen suffering from allergic diseases, the revealed changes were accompanied by a weakening of the processes of physiological immunosuppression in the form of a persistent decrease in the content of regulatory T lymphocytes in the dynamics of observation for 6 months.

Protecting oneself while supporting the organisation: A longitudinal exploratory study of healthcare workers’ coping strategies and organisational resilience processes in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major source of stress for health professionals and health institutions. In response, healthcare workers adapted their behaviours to protect their health and the organisational resilience of their institutions. The study aimed to explore these individual coping and organisational resilience strategies and their evolution during the first year of the pandemic. Based on a mixed and longitudinal protocol, the study included staff from several French-speaking Swiss healthcare institutions. Participants completed an online questionnaire three times during the first year of the pandemic. They described daily problematic work situations, coping styles, and organisational resilience strategies. ‘Problem solving’ was the most frequently reported coping style, followed by ‘positive thinking’, and in a lesser extent ‘seeking social support’ and ‘avoidance’. A high level of ‘problem solving’ and ‘positive thinking’ was associated with well-managed situations, learning and development of new work practices and higher team performance. A higher level of ‘seeking social support’ and ‘avoidance’ tended to be associated with high-risk problematic situations that hindered organisation resilience. Coping strategies differed depending on profession, job tenure and hierarchical status. The article concludes with recommendations for improving both organisational resilience and individual workers’ well-being in healthcare institutions.

Research on the Causes and Countermeasures of Professional Stress of Kindergarten Teachers: Survey from a Kindergarten in Guiyang City

The professional pressure of preschool teachers refers to all kinds of negative emotional expriences generated by preschool teachers in the special educational environment of preschool education,including all negative emotional experiences caused by society, kindergarten, teachers themselves and parents. This thesis takes some preschool teachers of kindergarten X in Guiyang City as the research object, and investigates some kindergarten teachers of kindergarten X in Guiyang City through the Questionnaire on the Current Situation of Occupational Stress of Preschool Teachers, and interviews the preschool teachers of the kindergarten through the interview outline, the research results show that most of the preschool teachers of the kindergarten have high occupational stress or overload; the occupational stress of preschool teachers mainly comes from the preschool teachers themselves, the study concluded that in order to alleviate the professional pressure of preschool teachers.First of all, preschool teachers should correctly understand and cope with occupational stress; secondly, kindergartens should provide a harmonious working atmosphere for preschool teachers; finally, society should strengthen its concern and support for preschool teachers.

Occupational burnout of health care workers in a specialised COVID hospital setting

The aim is to evaluate the peculiarities of the development of professional burnout (PB) among physicians of therapeutic and surgical specialties, as well as middle medical workers, specialised red zones, as well as its prediction and prevention in this category of workers. Material and methods. The following groups of medical workers were examined: the 1st group consisted of doctors of therapeutic specialities (GPs) working in the red zone (n=111); the 2nd group consisted of doctors of surgical specialities (MDs) working in the ‘red zone’ (n=61); the 3rd group consisted of nurses working in the red zone (n=29); the 4th group – the control group included workers of engineering, technical and economic specialities not related to work in medical organisations (n=190). Professional burnout syndrome was assessed using the Maslach Burnout questionnaire and V.V. Boyko’s technique of diagnosing the level of burnout [4, 5]. The data were processed using Statistica statistical package by StatSoft (USA). Results. It was found that the work of therapeutic and surgical doctors, as well as middle medical workers of specialised red zones, is connected with the exposure of medical workers to a number of specific risk factors related to the provision of medical care to infected patients, as well as with significant changes in the work regarding aspects related to organisation, safety, which contribute to the increase in the level of stress and the increase in the level of SP. Conclusions. The work of physicians of therapeutic and surgical specialities, as well as middle medical workers of specialised red zones, is associated with an increase in the level of professional stress and the level of SP. It is necessary to continue the research of emotional state of medical doctors and average medical workers working in conditions of extreme epidemic situations with the purpose of timely preventive treatment for preservation of health of medical workers.

Stress in social and health care professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities: risk and protective factors

Objectives Those working in the field of intellectual disabilities are confronted with a multitude of stressors, which can give rise to considerable psychological difficulties. The objective of this study was to identify the key predictors of perceived and relational stress among professionals working in intellectual disability centers. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed, with 726 professionals participating (mean age = 43.35 years, SD = 11.19), predominantly women (78.6%). The variables assessed included perceived stress, relational stress, emotional balance, life satisfaction, social support, empathy, and counseling training. The analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling and qualitative-comparative analysis of fuzzy data (QCA). Results The study revealed that the stress levels of the study participants were moderate to low. The relationship between emotional balance and stress was mediated by life satisfaction. In both structural equation models, negative affect and life satisfaction were identified as primary predictors, significantly influencing perceived and relational stress. Additionally, QCA highlighted that empathy and social support, along with these factors, contribute to explaining stress levels. Conclusions Our findings highlight the necessity of implementing preventive strategies and support systems to mitigate stress among healthcare professionals who work with individuals with intellectual disabilities. These findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding stress management in this specialized healthcare context.

The impact of children’s dental anxiety on dentists

INTRODUCTION. According to statistics, medical workers and, in particular, dentists are exposed to stressful factors in the workplace on a daily basis. Due to the specifics of their daily activities, pediatric dentists experience a great emotional burden, especially when treating children who are not adapted to dental care, which leads to the development of an emotional burnout syndrome among specialists. AIM. To determine the effect of children’s dental anxiety on emotional stability during admission and psychoemotional status after admission by dentists with emotional burnout syndrome.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study involved 76 pediatric dentists and 68 patients aged 6–7 years. The psychoemotional state of dentists was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Questionnaire and a Visual Analog Scale. The behavior of children at the dental appointment was recorded according to the evaluation scale of the behavioral profile of the Melamed.RESULTS. According to the results of the Maslach questionnaire, burnout syndrome of varying severity was detected in all specialists. Deterioration of the psychoemotional state after receiving a patient who was not adapted to dental treatment was observed in 16%.CONCLUSIONS. The study shows that in order to prevent burnout syndrome in pediatric dentists, it is necessary to reduce professional stress through methods of adapting children to treatment, correcting patient behavior and reducing dental anxiety.

The impact of negative affects on the high prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress in healthcare professionals.

Psychiatric disorders are the conditions that most contribute to incapacity worldwide. While many healthcare professionals adapt in dealing with various demands, others do not. How much of these conditions is associated with affective experience needs to be studied. Assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress while investigating the relationship between the presence of positive and negative affect in healthcare professionals. This study's convenience sample consisted of 975 providers (including nursing, physicians, and multidisciplinary team) and administrative professionals (service and supervision teams) working at a general private hospital in Brazil. Data were collected in 2019 through a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X). The results are shown through multinomial regression with odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, and P-value. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 49.4%, 46.1%, and 49.8%, respectively, showing high prevalence. It was observed that a high presence of negative affect is associated with a greater likelihood of developing anxiety, depression, and stress, while a high presence of positive affect is associated with a lower likelihood of depression and stress prevalence. The high prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress in healthcare professionals is associated with the presence of negative affects. Mental disorders should be measured, and practices adopted to ensure well-being and job performance.

A Complex Relationship Among the Circadian Rhythm, Reward Circuit and Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

The human brain not only controls the various physiological functions but is also the prime regulator of circadian rhythms, rewards, and behaviors. Environmental factors, professional stress, and social disintegration are regarded as the initial causative factors of addiction behavior. Shift work, artificial light exposure at night, and chronic and acute jet lag influence circadian rhythm dysfunction. The result is impaired neurotransmitter release, dysfunction of neural circuits, endocrine disturbance, and metabolic disorder, leading to advancement in substance use disorder. There is a bidirectional relationship between chronodisruption and addiction behavior. Circadian rhythm dysfunction, neuroadaptation in the reward circuits, and alteration in clock gene expression in the mesolimbic areas influence substance use disorder (SUD), and chronotherapy has potential benefits in the treatment strategies. This review explores the relationship among the circadian rhythm dysfunction, reward circuit, and SUD. The impact of chronotherapy on SUD has also been discussed.

A custom tailored, evidence-based, theory-informed intervention for healthcare professionals to prevent burnout (LAGOM): study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BackgroundHealthcare professionals in hospitals are exposed to a high level of professional stress, time pressure, workload, and often times poor organizational support. This makes them especially susceptible to burnout. In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial, we test the hypothesis that participation in a 9-week program (LAGOM) that was designed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, incorporating both individual and organizational aspects reduces emotional exhaustion in healthcare professionals (primary outcome).MethodsEighty four nurses and physicians working at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Immanuel Hospital Berlin are automatically randomized to the LAGOM program (n = 42) or to usual care (n = 42) in a one-to-one allocation rate. The primary outcome emotional exhaustion is measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up via an online survey. Secondary outcomes include depersonalization, personal accomplishment, subjective stress, mental well-being, self-care, self-efficacy, working conditions, mindfulness, and adverse events. Electrophysiological measures for heart rate variation analysis are captured. The PRECIS-2 tool is used to characterize the degree of pragmatism in our trial. Data analysis and primary intention-to-treat analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance are performed blind to intervention allocation. Per-protocol, subgroup, and secondary outcome analyses are conducted exploratively. An advisory board consisting of various stakeholders accompanies the study process.DiscussionIf LAGOM proves to be effective in reducing symptoms of burnout, the program could make an important contribution to tackling the problem of the very high burnout rates among healthcare professionals and become an integral part of preventive services offered by hospitals.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00034060. Registered 31 May 2024.

Features of Psychosomatic Symptoms in the Health Profile of Students

Introduction. Professional training of future specialists involves not only acquisition of knowledge, skills and abilities and development of professionally important qualities, but also prevention of somatoform disorders among students that is understood as a tendency to feel, experience and report the presence of educational and professional stress in the form of physical symptoms, in particular, symptoms of anxiety. Leveling out psychosomatic symptoms that negatively affect the skin, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems of students will serve as the basis for a psychological prevention program. Purpose. The goal was to identify the features of psychosomatic symptoms in the health profile of students. Methods and materials. A total of 654 adult students from Moscow universities participated in the study on a voluntary basis. In order to identify health conditions and physical symptoms reflecting the response to negative factors and hidden emotions, the participants were asked to fill out two questionnaires: “How healthy are you?” elaborated by O.P. Novykh and “Psychosomatics of our life,” developed by I.K. Odintsov. Then, the data were processed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and the Chaddock scale. Results. The following features of psychosomatic symptoms were revealed: average health condition characterized by an above-average level of disorders of the digestive system and negative skin reactions; average level of disorders of the cardiovascular system and general somatization indicators; below-average level of disorders of the respiratory system and the musculoskeletal system.

The Mediating Effect of Rumination in the Relationship between Secondary Traumatic Stress and Self-Compassion in Psychosocial Support Providers

The aim of this study is to determine whether rumination has a mediating role in the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and self-compassion levels of professionals who provide psychosocial assistance to survivors after the earthquake in Turkey on 6 February 2023. The research was organized in accordance with the relational screening model. Within the scope of Turkey Disaster Response Plan, 153 professionals including social workers, psychologists and psychological counselors who provide psychosocial assistance to earthquake survivors participated in the study. The research data were collected through an online survey link using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Ruminative Reaction Scale and Personal Information Form. In the analysis of the data; descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and PROCESS Macro (Model 4) were used in the mediation test. According to the results of the study, the direct (β = −0.204) and indirect (β = −0.175) effects of self-compassion on secondary traumatic stress are statistically significant and negative. Therefore, it was determined that rumination played a significant mediating role in this interaction. Accordingly, it is understood that increasing self-compassion and regulating rumination reactions are important in reducing the secondary traumatic stress levels of professionals providing psychosocial assistance. There is a need for more research into the factors that influence the secondary traumatic stress of mental health workers who intervene with traumatized people.

Animal Protection Officers: Professional Identity, Professional Stressors, and Mental Health Needs

Abstract Animal protection officers (APOs) fulfill critical community roles but are underrepresented in academic literature. This study explored APOs’ professional identities, professional stressors, positive job aspects, and mental health needs and access. Our mixed-methods design featured a survey followed by interviews. The survey was disseminated to APOs from four local agencies. Results from 18 respondents revealed that seeing a child injured by an animal or an animal injured by a human were the most stressful work situations. Positive job aspects included helping animals, public education, and supporting community safety. Only four respondents had accessed mental health services for job-related issues. Nine respondent interviews yielded themes addressing how APOs make meaning, stressors and resilience factors, and mental health supports. Recommendations based on survey and interview responses are provided.

Ambition, Marital Status, and Burnout: Insights from India’s Gig Economy for Sustainable Employment

This study investigates the link between personal ambition, marital status, and burnout among Indian gig professionals, focusing on how individual traits and life circumstances affect occupational stress. Through structured survey of diverse gig workers, the results reveal significant stress levels, with single individuals showing a stronger connection between ambition and burnout than their married peers. The research explores the crucial role of ambition in causing stress among gig workers and how marital status moderates this relationship. It challenges the conventional view of ambition as merely a motivational asset, highlighting its complex impact on professional stress. It calls for further research into ambition’s role in occupational stress and emphasizes the importance of inclusive policies. These findings support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), advocating for sustainable development and well-being for gig workers.

Positive vaccine beliefs linked to reduced mental stress in healthcare professionals during COVID-19: a retrospective study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant adverse effect on the mental health of healthcare professionals. This study aims to assess the effects of the prolonged pandemic on burnout and mood disorders and to evaluate the influence of positive vaccination beliefs on these factors at a medical center during the extended COVID-19 pandemic. This retrospective study analyzed the results of an online questionnaire survey including burnout status and mood disorders from 2020 to 2022. The factors related to mood moderate/severe disorders and the impact of the positive vaccine belief were also explored. The initial analysis revealed that healthcare professionals continued to experience significant levels of personal and work-related burnout, along with mood disorders. However, the scores and the percentage of moderate to severe burnout gradually decreased. Notably, the percentage of individuals with moderate to severe mood disorders also gradually declined (2020: 13.4%, 2021: 12.3%, 2022: 11.1%). The number of participants who need professional interventions decreased from 56.2% in 2020 to 45.9% in 2021, and 46% in 2022. Multivariate analysis revealed a positive vaccine belief was associated with a lower risk of moderate/severe mood disorders, with odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of 0.38 (0.28 - 0.52) and 0.41 (0.30 - 0.52) in the 2021 and 2022 cohorts, respectively. Further investigation revealed that age over 50 was linked to a positive vaccine belief in 2021 and 2022. Within the 2022 cohort, working as nurses was identified as the independent factor associated with a less positive belief, with the OR and 95% CI of 0.49 (0.27 - 0.90). The findings of the present study suggest burnout and mood disorders are still significant during the pandemic. A positive vaccine belief may mitigate pandemic-related mental distress. Further interventions to enhance the belief combined with other supporting measures are important in a long fight against the pandemic.

Burnout Among Nurses Working in Critical Care Units in Africa: An Integrative Review

Background: Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been effectively managed. The level of burnout that is experienced by nurses varies according to geographical region and specialties, such as paediatric and critical care nursing. However, little is known about burnout among nurses in African critical care units. Aim: To explore the available evidence on burnout among nurses in African critical care units. Methods: The review was guided by the Whittemore and Knafl framework for integrative review. Literature was searched in Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases. The search strategy applied Boolean operators AND, OR using the following key terms: critical care nurses, burnout, and Africa. The alternative keywords were: nurs*, OR intensive care nurses OR Critical Care Nursing OR Intensive Care Nursing OR critical care nurs* AND “burnout syndrom*depersonalis/zation” OR “emotional exhaustion, workplace stress, Occupational Stresses, Professional Stress, Job-related Stress” AND specific names of the African countries. Findings: The review included eighteen articles. Two hundred and forty-nine nurses (n = 2,249) who work in critical care settings participated in the studies. The findings showed that nurses in critical care settings experience moderate to high levels of burnout, with emotional exhaustion being a common characteristic. Burnout is associated with factors related to the individual, work, and organization. The consequences of burnout include secondary traumatic stress, intention to leave the job, and increased risk of infection to the patient. Conclusions: The review has significant implications for nursing at various levels. The findings provided could inform future research and interventions to reduce burnout among critical care nurses in Africa.

Professional Stress and Coping Strategies of Private School Leaders in Nepal

Professional Stress and Coping Strategies of Private School Leaders in Nepal

Implementing Autonomous Control in the Digital-Twins-Based Internet of Robotic Things for Remote Patient Monitoring.

Conventional patient monitoring methods require skin-to-skin contact, continuous observation, and long working shifts, causing physical and mental stress for medical professionals. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) assists healthcare workers in monitoring patients distantly using various wearable sensors, reducing stress and infection risk. RPM can be enabled by using the Digital Twins (DTs)-based Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) that merges robotics with the Internet of Things (IoT) and creates a virtual twin (VT) that acquires sensor data from the physical twin (PT) during operation to reflect its behavior. However, manual navigation of PT causes cognitive fatigue for the operator, affecting trust dynamics, satisfaction, and task performance. Also, operating manual systems requires proper training and long-term experience. This research implements autonomous control in the DTs-based IoRT to remotely monitor patients with chronic or contagious diseases. This work extends our previous paper that required the user to manually operate the PT using its VT to collect patient data for medical inspection. The proposed decision-making algorithm enables the PT to autonomously navigate towards the patient's room, collect and transmit health data, and return to the base station while avoiding various obstacles. Rather than manually navigating, the medical personnel direct the PT to a specific target position using the Menu buttons. The medical staff can monitor the PT and the received sensor information in the pre-built virtual environment (VE). Based on the operator's preference, manual control of the PT is also achievable. The experimental outcomes and comparative analysis verify the efficiency of the proposed system.

SÍNDROME BURNOUT: DESAFIOS E PERSPECTIVAS

The Burnout syndrome can be defined as one of the most striking consequences of professional stress in the area, being characterized as a reaction to chronic emotional stress generated from direct contact, excessive and stressful with work. This disease causes the person decrease the interest in the work, so that the relationships and events cease to matter and any personal effort seems useless. This article aims to review the scientific literature that addresses the burnout syndrome in nursing professionals, identifying its most important aspects. For screening was used selection of national and international publications with publication period between 1992 and 2012. The proposed study was considered important because it is a current issue that needs a design and implementation of strategies that can contribute to improving the quality of life in professional nursing daily, making the care/caring one-way street in the professional relationship X client health X organization. We conclude this research, there is a close relationship between burnout syndrome and the absence of life quality in professional.

Effectiveness of yoga intervention on depression, stress, and sleep quality in IT professionals with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is prevalent among IT professionals and often accompanied by psychological symptoms such as depression, stress, and sleep disturbances. While conventional treatments primarily target pain management, holistic approaches like yoga show promising results in addressing both physical and psychosomatic factors. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to assess the impact of a yoga intervention on depression, stress, and sleep quality in IT professionals with CLBP. A total of 83 IT professionals with CLBP were randomly allocated to either a yoga (n = 40) intervention group or a control group (n = 40) receiving standard care. The intervention group underwent a structured yoga program tailored for CLBP, while the control group followed a standard care protocol. Outcome measures, including pain intensity, depression levels, perceived stress, and sleep quality, were assessed using validated standard questionnaires. Preliminary analysis reveals significant enhancements in the yoga intervention group compared to the control group. Specifically, participants in the yoga group reported a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity (p < 0.05), along with notable decreases in depression scores (p < 0.05), anxiety score (p < 0.05), and stress levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, the yoga intervention group demonstrated enhanced sleep quality (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. This RCT provides compelling evidence for the efficacy of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for CLBP management in IT professionals. The findings emphasize the potential of yoga in alleviating both physical and psychological symptoms associated with CLBP. Healthcare providers may consider incorporating yoga into treatment programs for CLBP in IT professionals to optimize outcomes and enhance overall well-being. Moreover, these results emphasize the importance of holistic interventions in addressing the complex nature of CLBP in the workplace.