Keeping Afloat in a Sea of Change: Strategies Used by University Staff to Cope With Workplace Stressors

Abstract

Research has shown that job stress is associated with a deterioration of psychological health and a reduction in work productivity. In 1997, 1300 University of New England (UNE) staff were sent a 4-item survey asking them to indicate what creative strategies they used at home and at work to cope with workplace stress, and also what they wanted to see more or less of in the workplace that would then reduce stress. The 340 staff who replied comprised 161 females, 153 males, and 26 gender not specified. From the open-ended responses to each question emerged 7 main groupings of stress reduction and coping strategies, these being: team work; open communication; clear work policies and procedures; social interaction; personal care; positive thinking; and practical solutions. An outcome of the survey was the production of a poster displayed in all UNE "tea" rooms, and a pamphlet which was distributed to all University staff. These were ways of feeding back to staff their creative stress management strategies.