A Longitudinal Study about Stress, Burnout and Coping

Abstract

A longitudinal study was completed (T and T+10 years) that aimed to evaluate the evolution of Stress levels and to identify Psychologists’ Coping Strategies in the Algarve (south of Portugal). The sample used in this field study was comprised of 70 psychologists at the moment T and 63 at the moment T+10 years. The followed methodology consisted of descriptive statistics and simple regression equations using the SPSS v17.0 software. The results show some significant differences between the two evaluated moments (T and T+10 years) at Stress and Burnout level. However, at both evaluation moments (T and T+10 years), the Coping strategies used more by the evaluated psychologists were the control strategies and the ones they found more effective were the symptoms management. These results have major implications both for the psychologists and for the organizations for which they work.Key-words: Stress, Burnout, Coping, Psychologists.