Job Stress among Social Workers: Determinants and Attitude Effects in the Nordic Countries

Abstract

Little is known about social workers' job stress in a comparative sense, and whether job stress might negatively affect their views of clients within the welfare system. We examine these issues on the basis of cross-sectional survey data collected from professional social workers in four Nordic countries that have similar welfare systems and where workers engage in similar tasks. Job stress is measured using two indicators: workload and role conflicts. The results indicate frequent problems with job stress in all four countries, although they are especially pronounced in Finland. Social workers with limited work experience, as well as those working within the public sector, suffered the most both from an extensive workload and from role conflicts. The findings also indicate that social workers' attitudes towards clients within the welfare system are to some extent related to their level of job stress.