The stressors and strains of health visiting : demands, supports, constraints and psychological health

Abstract

An empirical study investigated the work stressors and psychological strains experienced by health visitors in three areas of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire A questionnaire, based on Payne's model of occupational stress, probed the perceived demands, supports and constraints of the work and the coping strategies used by the health visitors The research aimed to establish the extent and nature of strain using validated indicators of general anxiety and depression, to pinpoint specific features of the work which are associated with the strain measures, and to suggest possible changes to working practices While health visitors found their jobs generally satisfying, a significant number of staff were under strain even though the mean levels of strain were lower than those observed in social workers and hospital-based nursing staff working with people who have a mental handicap, and little different from women who work in industry Many aspects of the job were perceived to be demanding yet the demanding nature of cases was not related to strain measures There were, however, interesting statistical relationships between strain scores and demands concerned with colleagues and managers and the amount of support a health visitor perceived.