ABSTRACT
In turn, this classification corresponds very closely to the three models of stress identified by Cox (1978):
1 the engineering model, which is mainly concerned with the question ‘What causes stress?’ 2. the physiological model – ‘What are the effects of stress?’, and 3. the transactional model, which is concerned with both these questions, plus ‘How do we
cope with stress?’ While stressors are faced by everyone (especially, perhaps, those living in constantly
changing western cultures), some face greater demands than others. As a group, patients (both in and out of hospital) face sources of stress that they didn’t have to deal with before becoming ill. Similarly, while all occupations are stressful, some are more stressful than others. Several studies have suggested that health workers experience more stress than comparable groups of non-health workers (Jones, 1995). In terms of Warr’s (1987) vitamin model, which identifies several environmental factors that affect mental health, nurses and other health professionals are likely to suffer from organisational stressors that are common to many other occupations (such as lack of clarity, conflicting roles, work overload and lack of control). However, nurses often suffer additional stressors that are intrinsic to the job, such as providing terminal care, counselling bereaved parents, and dealing with disturbed and violent patients (see Chapter 3).
