Does Working in Rehabilitation Setting is more Stressful than Hospitals?

Abstract

Clinical work in mental health may be considered stressful for a variety of reasons. This research aimed at studying job stress among mental health professionals working with the mentally ill and their families. The sample comprised of 63 professionals (clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, psychosocial rehabilitation professionals, and occupational therapists) working in psychiatric hospitals and various rehabilitation centres in the city of Kolkata. Professionals with a minimum work experience of one year and those currently working in that particular setting were selected, with consent to participate in the study. The researcher designed a socio-demographic data sheet and used a standardized tool, the Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale (MHPSS) consisting of seven subscales, to assess job stress. The data analysis was done through descriptive statistical techniques and comparison in terms of t-test and ANOVA. 

Moderate levels of stress are found in both settings, and professionals in psychiatric hospital settings scored more levels of stress than those working in rehabilitation settings. The comparative stress scores on various subscales of the MHPSS for both groups were statistically significant as shown by the ‘t’ test values. Among the seven subscales, “Workload†has higher stress scores than other subscales in both settings. Socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, educational qualification, residential status, nature of work, and type of setting were statistically significant in both the settings in relation to the subscales as shown by the ANOVA results.

Keywords: Occupational stress, mental health