STRESS AND RESIDENTIAL STAFF - TOWARDS AN INTEGRATION OF EXISTING RESEARCH

This paper examines the literature relating to stress in staff who car e for people with learning disabilities. The majority of published stu dies have considered stress in residential staff. When assessing the s tudies, it soon becomes apparent that there is considerable variabilit y between them in terms of methodology and results. However, the main reason for the range of results probably represent differences in orga nisational structure of the services surveyed. Despite this variabilit y some simple general trends emerge which suggest that potential stres sors and supports vary depending upon their proximity within the organ isational structure. Models are presented on how these inter-relations hips might be considered.