COPING WITH JOB-STRESSORS IN HEALTH-PROFE SSIONS

A model of coping with job stressors is presented, whereby the mediati ng effect of coping always is goal directed. There exists a variety of stressors in health professions which call for flexible adaptation. R esults of studies by this author on coping with job stressors in nursi ng and dentists are presented. Coping strategies of nurses are not alw ays optimal: in factor analysis coping by will and problemsolving was followed by social support; less favourable is diversion and compensat ion by consumption, fatalistic-depressed withdrawal or aggressive acti ng out. Religions support seems to be especially helpful in a subgroup . Job satisfaction remains high (80 % satisfied), with progressive sat isfaction going with little stress values, but poor satisfaction with high stress. In the coping process of doctors and dentists there is a better correspondence between stressors and coping strategies. Quite i n contrast to the rich literature on stressors there are few studies o n coping of healthcare professionals, so that it is difficult to deriv e general conclusions. Nevertheless, based on qualitative analysis (re pertory grid by Kelly) certain typical patterns were elaborated like ' 'manager; denier; pleaser; problemseeker''. Finally intervention strat egies to improve coping of health professionals are reviewed.