Increased focus on values. A tool in stress prevention?

• Background and purpose Can an increased focus on values in working life be a factor in stress prevention? Values are defined as the shared principles which guide behaviour in an organisation. The purpose of this study was to describe how patients with musculoskeletal pain perceive the importance of values in relation to coping with daily stress and in relation to health. Methods Patients receiving physiotherapy for various musculoskeletal disorders at three primary healthcare centres in the north of Sweden participated in the study, in total 95 patients. They answered a questionnaire covering values, work situation, coping behaviour and health and the relationship between these aspects. Results All patients perceived that it was important to have values to follow at work, such as doing one's best, setting priorities, following one's priorities and having open and direct communicationwith others. A significant positive relationship was shown between having motivating values and low emotion-focused strategies, in this case behavioural and cognitive coping strategies. A positive relationship was also shown between having motivating values and low occurrence of symptoms (good perceived health). Conclusion Values and effective coping strategies may be motivating factors preserving health.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

coping

prevention

stress

Values

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)