STRESS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

This paper summarises the findings of a series of studies of British c linical psychologists and discusses them in relation to the (mainly US ) literature. Four main questions are addressed: (1) How stressed are clinical psychologists? (2) Which psychologists are most stressed? (3) What are the main sources of stress for clinical psychologists? and ( 4) What coping strategies are used by clinical psychologists? A figure summarises the main risk factors emerging from the literature which a ppear to be important mediators between the stressor and the psycholog ical outcome variables. These are: (1) low job satisfaction; (2) low r ange of active coping strategies; (3) high use of avoidance coping str ategies involving denial; (4) stressor not externalised and objectifie d; (5) stressor threatens other roles/relationships; (6) low experienc e in job; (7) no quality relationship with confidant(e)/poor quality r elationship with partner; and (8) female.