Estresse ocupacional em trabalhadores de uma fundação de atendimento socioeducativo: Prevalência e fatores associados

Abstract

Background: Studies addressing work and health in socio-educational support foundations are rare. According to the available literature, the activities performed at such institutions might be a source of stress and mental illness. Objectives: Considering the relevant role of stress in several health outcomes, the present study sought to establish the prevalence of occupational stress and related factors among workers at Socio-educational Assistance Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Fundação de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul, FASE-RS). Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with a sample comprising211 employees, who responded the Job Stress Scale to assess occupational stress, based on the demand-control model. We used descriptive statistics, Student's t test, the χ2 test, Poisson multiple regression and the Wald test to describe the sample data, compare between groups, analyze differences in prevalence and control confounders. Results: The prevalence of high job strain was 41.2% among the employees allocated to Socioeducational Assistance Centers (Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo, CASE), who provide direct care to youths on probation, and 9.3% among the employees allocated to the Administration Section (Sede Administrativa, SEDE). The prevalence of high psychological demand was 68.7% and 34.9% among CASE and SEDE workers, respectively. The prevalence of low work control and low social support was 38% and 24.8% for SEDE employees and 57.8% and 85.3% among CASE workers, respectively. Violence, shift work, contact with youths on probation and overtime were the factors more strongly associated with stress. Conclusion: The analyzed population exhibits high exposure to occupational stress, which demands interventions in the work process to reduce the risk of illness among these workers.