Measurement of Psychological Stress in A Group of Journalists Working in One of The Private Journalism Institutes in Egypt

Abstract

Background: mental health problems are rising in number and severity between journalists & media field workers. Keeping mental well-being of media field workers is a must that is so hard to be achieved by most societies. Objective: This research aims to study the prevalence of stress &associated psychological disorders (depression-anxiety) and their association with some factors. Patients and Methods: a cross-sectional-questionnaire based study was conducted among journalists working in one of the private journals in Egypt. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42) was used to assess stress & associated psychological disorders along with a socio-demographic questionnaire designed by the researcher. A total of 100 journalists participated in the study, they compose about 83% of the whole journalists working in the organization, Overall, the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression was 61%, 57%, and 64% among studied sample respectively. Results: higher stress scores were significantly associated with lower age group& lower job satisfaction. Higher anxiety scores were significantly associated with demanding psychological support from family and friends & exposure to work-related trauma. Higher depression score was associated with lower job satisfaction &using smoking as stress relief. Conclusion: high percentage of journalists was suffered from stress, anxiety and depression. The associated factors include lower age, low job satisfactionlevel, smoking, and exposure to work-related trauma. Further studies need to be conducted to identify other associated factors related to working as a journalist.