Workload, Work-Life Conflict, and Stress Amongst Mental Health Professionals: The Moderating Role of Segmentation
Ilona M McNeill1,2, Eloisa Cullington2
1Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Summary
Mental health professionals experiencing higher workloads face increased stress due to work-life conflict. A preference for segmenting work and personal life amplifies this relationship, highlighting key factors in managing occupational stress.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Stress and Resilience Research
Background:
- Mental health professionals are susceptible to high psychological stress.
- Understanding resilience factors is crucial for supporting these workers.
- Workload is a significant stressor linked to work-life conflict.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test a mediation model of workload, work-life conflict, and stress in mental health professionals.
- To examine how work-life segmentation preference moderates this model.
Main Methods:
- 152 Australian mental health professionals completed a survey.
- Data collected on workload, work-life conflict, segmentation preference, and stress.
- Statistical analysis tested mediation and moderation effects.
Main Results:
- Higher workload predicted increased stress through work-life conflict.
- Segmentation preference moderated the relationship between workload and work-life conflict.
- Segmentation preference also moderated the link between work-life conflict and stress.
Conclusions:
- Workload increases stress via work-life conflict in mental health professionals.
- A preference for segmentation intensifies the impact of workload and conflict on stress.
- Findings inform targeted strategies for reducing occupational stress in this field.
Keywords:
boundary theoryperson environment fittime pressureworkloadwork‐family border theorywork‐family conflict (WFC)More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
212
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
212
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
71
Personality types, particularly Type A and Type B, significantly influence how individuals respond to stress. These personality distinctions are marked by varying levels of ambition, competitiveness, and coping styles, all of which shape an individual's resilience to stressors.
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...
71
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
177
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
177
Types of Stressors
305
A stressor is any event, condition, or stimulus that triggers stress and causes a physical or psychological response in the body. Stressors can be categorized into three main types: catastrophes; significant life changes; and daily hassles, including social stress. Each can be detrimental to physical and mental well-being.
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
305
Psychological Responses to Stress
100
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
100
Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.5K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.5K


