Occupational stress level and socio-demographic profiles of psychiatric residents at the national center for mental health

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study determines the presence and level of occupational stress among medical residents training in the field of psychiatry at the National Center for Mental Health and their socio-demographic profiles. Methods: It is a descriptive study conducted in June 2003 among 18 psychiatric residents using the Occupational Stress Assessment as a tool to measure their individual stress levels in terms of factors in the work place such as empowerment, organizational irrationality, job complexity, work support environment and management exposure. Other factors outside the work place include home support, negative outcome and relaxation potential. Consequently, their socio-demographic characteristics were also determined. Results: A total of eighteen residents, eight males (44%) and ten females (56%) responded. It revealed that although stress is existent, factors like high work support and exposure management assisted the participants in coping. In addition, it revealed that residents scaled the same level in certain factors like empowerment, exposure management and relaxation potentials. In totality, although burnout syndrome was not evident at this point in time, most residents scored in the medium level in many scales indicative of possible opportunity for improvement. Conclusion: Despite stressors encountered during residency training in psychiatry, factors such as support at work place and at home, empowerment and relaxation potential lowered the level of stress among the trainees.