The impact of Stressful EventOn Social Work Performance

Abstract

research is an inquiry into the effects of social support and coping processes on psychological distress in response to stressful work and life events amongst social workers who work with children in schools in Kuwait. A sample of 233 social workers employed in some Kuwaiti primary schools participated in this study. The results of Pearson correlation coefficients, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the psychological tests utilized, a modified version of the Critical Life Events Scale (Sewell, 1983 ) , a social readjustment rating scale, and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies’ Depression Scale (CES-D) (Radloff, 1977 ) demonstrated that the stressful work events experienced by social workers during their job was measured using a modified version of the Critical Life Events Scale (Sewell, 1983 ) indicated that the psychological distress experienced by the social workers due to stressful work events was major, whilst the results of the social readjustment rating scale was major (<300 ). The relationship between work events and distress was associated with higher distress. Seeking social support buffered the relationship between work events and distress, and emotion-focused coping buffered the relationship between life events and distress in social workers. The study bore out interesting findings, some of which were commensurate with the literature and pertinent research, and discussed in a background of pertinent research