Job Stress Among Academic Health Center and Community Hospital Social Workers

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the perception of job stress and job satisfaction among 187 social workers employed in academic health centers (AHC's) and general community hospitals. Results show that social workers in Academic Health Centers reported more overall job stress, higher intensity and more frequent job pressures than community hospital social workers on the Job Stress Survey. The higher the levels of job stress, especially the intensity of job pressures, the lower job satisfaction scores were for both groups. Respondents with less job tenure felt a lack of organizational support. Hospital and social service administrators are urged to explore health promotion strategies for a positive work environment. Further empirical work is needed to compare the sources of job stress of social workers in various fields of practice.