Stress and coping in behavioral healthcare: a qualitative study

Healthcare workers are facing unprecedented levels of stress, leading to increased burnout and intentions to leave the profession. Through a qualitative study of behavioral healthcare workers in an urban community hospital, we identify specific behaviors and cognitive beliefs to cope with workplace stressors.

Semi-structured interviews of key personnel of a behavioral healthcare facility (n = 25) were conducted over a three-month period. Participants were asked to describe the current environment and procedures of the department. Data were analyzed through thematic coding following the Gioia methodology.

We found workers identify threats in terms of a dangerous environment, financial security and unexpected conditions without sources of assistance from external resources, internal resources and effective management. Workers coped with this stress through problem-based coping strategies including deviant workplace behavior and justification of the system. Workers engaged in emotion-based strategies of meaningful work, behavioral justification and disengagement.

Based on our findings, we offer a model identifying specific coping behaviors and beliefs in response to workplace stress. We set forth a future research agenda in which the relationships in the model may be investigated through quantitative research methods.