Enjoying work or Burdened by it? : How personal Assistants Experience and Handle Stress at Work

• A personal assistant has to promote equality in living conditions for persons with severe disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore how personal assistants experience their work and what strategies they employ to alleviate work-related stress. Thirty personal assistants were interviewed and latent content analysis was performed. The findings regarding the experiences of work-related stress could be brought together under the theme of “difficulties of being in a subordinate position,” and those regarding management strategies could be brought together under the theme of “coming to terms with the work situation.” There is a need to empower personal assistants through training programs including tailored education, working communities, and coaching.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

Keyword

adults

coping

disability assistance services

empowerment

home care. personal assistant

physical disability

promoting participation

Vårdvetenskap

Caring Sciences

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)