The Role of Stressors and Coping Strategies in the Burnout Experienced by Hospice Workers

Abstract

The helping professions have always been associated with high levels of stress and burnout because of the emotional intensity of the relationships with patients. The nature of hospice work can be both rewarding and challenging. Hospice workers encounter a variety of work- and client-related stressors. The work-related stressors they face include organizational stressors and role ambiguity they experience in their work environment. Social factors make up a third set of work-related stressors. Chronic exposure to these stressors may result in burnout if they are not adequately dealt with. Coping strategies can be divided into 3 categories, namely, problem-focused coping strategies, emotionally focused coping strategies, and ineffective coping strategies. The focus of this research is to determine how the stressors experienced by hospice workers in and outside the working environment as well as the coping strategies adopted by them can be used to predict the extent to which they experience burnout. The findings of this study suggest that hospice workers do experience a great deal of burnout, which affects their work performance and general functioning. The burnout is mainly the result of work-related stressors. Recommendations to alleviate this problematic situation are made.

Physician Coping Styles and Emotional Exhaustion

“…This supports the literature that suggests that certain coping strategies may be more effective depending on the situation or type/source of stressor (Parkes, 1990;Sardiwalla, VandenBerg and Esterhuyse, 2007;Koeske, Kirk and Koeske, 1993). While the results suggest that taking a time out is not particularly useful in dealing with an overwhelming workload, it appears that it may be beneficial when doctors encounter difficult interpersonal patient interactions.…”

“…While a large body of research has suggested that active problem solving is generally the most effective coping response, other studies have also found that problem solving is significantly correlated with higher levels of burnout (e.g., Carver, Scheier and Weintraub, 1989;Sardiwalla, VandenBerg and Esterhuyse, 2007). It has been suggested that this approach may be less effective and even harmful in situations when the stressors reflect unalterable circumstances, such as patients' illness or death (Cohen et al, 1986;Sardiwalla, VandenBerg and Esterhuyse, 2007). Under such conditions, more emotion focused coping, in terms of sharing or releasing one's emotions in a supportive environment, may be beneficial.…”

“…Some researchers, however, recognize that certain coping responses may be potentially maladaptive and not necessarily effective in coping with the problems or emotions associated with the stressful situation (Carver, Scheier and Weintraub, 1989;Tattersall, Bennett and Pugh, 1999). These responses may reflect different ways that individuals deny their feelings of stress, deny or avoid the problematic nature of the situation, keep busy on other tasks or distract themselves in some way, or disengage from the situation (Carver, Scheier and Weintraub, 1989;Leiter, 1991;Sardiwalla, VandenBerg and Esterhuyse, 2007). It is also important to examine potentially maladaptive coping responses in order to better understand which ones are more or less effective, which is discussed in greater detail below.…”

“…For example, some studies focus on the personality dispositions discussed above, not only in terms of understanding which coping styles individuals adopt, but also which ones are more or less effective depending on different personality types (e.g., Parkes, 1994;Riolli and Savicki, 2003;Scheier and Carver, 1985). Some have examined how different types of strategies may be best suited for responding to different types of stressors (e.g., Parkes, 1990;Sardiwalla, VandenBerg and Esterhuyse, 2007;Koeske, Kirk and Koeske, 1993;Riolli and Savicki, 2010). Furthermore, the effectiveness of certain strategies may depend on the outcomes being examined, whereby some strategies may be more beneficial in protecting or enhancing physical health whilst others may benefit emotional or mental health (e.g., Chen and Cunradi, 2008).…”

The fatigue in workers of Iran Central Iron Ore Company in Yazd

“…And a complex as well as a subjective phenomenon with multifactorial origins [2]. In a cross-sectional survey in working community in 15 European countries, 5-56% of employees reported fatigue at work [3].…”