Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2007 Dec;19(4):259-267.

Level of Job Stress among Social Workers at Social Welfare Agencies in Seoul

• Choi SC
• Kim SA
• Lee JE
• Park WS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the level and variation of job stress according to social welfare organizations and work conditions among social workers in Seoul.
METHODS
For this survey, a self-reported questionnaire was administrated to 1,000 social workers working in organizations for social welfare practice in Seoul. A total of 432 completed questionnaires were received (43.2% response rate).
RESULTS
Social workers working in welfare organizations for the aged had higher job stress in the areas of job demand, insufficient job control and lack of reward than those in other welfare organizations. In addition, higher job stress was found in those in charge of both service and administrational work, without regular time for rest, working over 10 hours, in the frontline and senior grade.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the importance of guaranteeing regular time for breaks in the work schedule and of considering the service and administrational work ratio in job arrangement in order to alleviate stress of social workers.

Keyword

Stress; Social workers; KOSS

MeSH Terms

Appointments and Schedules
Questionnaires
Reward
Seoul*
Social Welfare*
Social Work*