High job demands and lack of time: A future challenge in occupational therapy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify work-related stress factors that contributed to work-related stress among Swedish occupational therapists and to investigate the association between work-related stress, demographic factors, and perceived overall stress. Methods: A postal questionnaire and a letter of invitation were sent to 807 Swedish occupational therapists, selected at random and representing 10% of occupational therapists working in Sweden. The response rate was 59%. A stress index presenting 49 stress factors graded on a scale from 1 (indicating no source of stress) to 6 (definitely a source of stress) was included. In addition, the level of perceived overall stress during the last two weeks was scored on a rating scale with the end points 0 (no stress) and 10 (extreme stress). Results: The main findings indicated that lack of resources and lack of time were the main stressors. “Working at a superficial level due to lack of time” was the only variable associated with high overall stress when both work-related and personal factors were included. Professional identity and clarity concerning the role were graded low with regard to stress. Conclusions: Work-related stress is just one aspect of the overall stress experienced but knowledge about its consequences highlights the importance of further studies.

Key words::

• work-related stress
• professional identity
• postal questionnaire

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the occupational therapists who gave their time to complete the postal questionnaire. No funding was received for this study.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.