Occupational stress among AIDS social service providers

• Published in: Social work in health care Vol. 21; no. 3; p. 115
• Main Authors: Cushman, L F, Evans, P, Namerow, P B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-1995
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - psychology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - rehabilitation; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Burnout, Professional - prevention & control; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Child; Female; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Health Services; Patient Care Team; Social Support; Social Work
• ISSN: 0098-1389
• DOI: 10.1300/J010v21n03_08

This survey reveals high levels of job-related stress among social workers, counselors and health educators working with HIV/AIDS patients in five large, urban medical centers. Stress is associated not only with the severity of AIDS as a disease, but also with several organizational characteristics of respondents' job sites. The availability and usefulness of several on-site, stress-reduction strategies are explored. Overall, where services such as stress-reduction workshops, support groups, and rotations away from direct patient care are offered, workers participate in them and perceive them as useful in reducing job-related stress. Interest in these and other stress-reduction services is high among those who do not currently have them available.