RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Stress problems are major public health problems. OBJECTIVE: To gain an increased understanding of how working men seeking care due to minor mental dysfunctions related to stress recognize their symptoms, what triggers them, and how this impacts their everyday life. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen men of working age, consecutively seeking care due to minor mental dysfunctions indicating stress problems, at two clinics in the Stockholm area in Sweden during 2009 and 2010. METHODS: A qualitative methodology was chosen, and interviews were performed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: In the manifest content, categories such as difficulties in setting limits, low social support, high work demands, and mental and physical dysfunctions were identified. Three themes finally emerged (latent content) and indicated that in this group of informants there are stressors both within the individual himself, in working life, and a lack of recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings it would be possible to implement measures to prevent stress-related problems by promoting coping strategies on an individual level, encouraging social networks, and regular physical exercise. By implementing work policies and workplace modifications, and also providing individual support at the workplace, supervisors and human resources managers could prevent, or modify stress problems among employees.
