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Original Research Article

Year: 2017 | Month: May | Volume: 7 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 282-292

Stress, Job Satisfaction and Ways of Coping among Suspended Health Services Staff

Αnna Depasta¹, Mary Pavlou², George Koulierakis³

¹Administrative personnel, Social Service office, Agios Savvas Ongology Hospital
²Head Nurse of Pathology & Hypatology Department, Nikaia and Piraeus General Hospital “ Agios Panteleimon”- Western Attica General Hospital “Agia Barbara”
³Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, National School of Public Health

Corresponding Author: Mary Pavlou

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The aim of this study was to document the levels of subjective stress, job satisfaction and the ways of coping among nurses and administrative staff of the 1st and 2nd Health Regions who were suspended and forced to turnover in September 2013.
Method: 275 employees were invited to participate in the study, 245 of which responded (response rate: 89.09%). Participants filled in the Greek versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, the Employee Satisfaction Inventory (ESI), and a questionnaire on demographics.
Results: Most employees (65.6%) were married, with children (72.6%), graduates of secondary education (38.8%), had worked 16 – 26 years before the turnover (62.4%) and had no liability position (38. 8%). Their average age was 45.3 years. Fear of dismissal was their biggest suspension-related concern (40.3%); half of them mentioned that they primarily faced psychological problems. 66.8% preferred their previous job, mainly because of good working conditions. Stress levels were moderate (18.9± 6.9). The results showed high levels of satisfaction with the working conditions (15.2± 4.1), the job itself (14.5± 3.2) and the Director(14.6± 3.5) and low satisfaction as regards promotion opportunities (7.2 ±2.5) and salary (8.4± 3.4). Most participants chose to cope not only through “positive reappraisal” (22.4± 3.2), but also through “wishful thinking” (11± 2.9) and “denial” (10.9± 2.6).

Conclusions: Specific consequences of suspension and the vulnerable points of the process were recorded. It is suggested that there be detachment of suspension from turnover and the creation of a new, flexible system of internal turnover in the public health sector, which will combine the administrative needs in human resources and the staff’s individual choices for a professional career.

Key words: suspension, stress, job satisfaction, coping strategies, health services

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