Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to identify the potential stressors for newborn hearing screeners and gain an understanding of how they perceive and experience stress. A qualitative method was applied. Interviews were conducted with volunteer participants to investigate sources of stress in the screener role. Interview questions were formulated from a model of occupational stress based on similar conceptualisations by different researchers (Cooper & Marshall, 1976; Fletcher, 1988; French, Caplan, & Van Harrison, 1982; Schuler, 1982). The authors claim six main factors (factors intrinsic to the job, role-based stress, relationships at work, career development, organisational structure and climate, and the home/work interface) are stressors common to all jobs. An online questionnaire-based survey was sent by the National Screening Unit to all newborn hearing screeners in New Zealand. Five questions were relevant to this thesis: stressors in the job, satisfying aspects of the job, dissatisfying aspects of the job, recommendations for improvements, and ‘other’ comments/suggestions. The results of the interviews (n = 7) revealed all six factors as stressors in the screener role. The results of the online survey (n = 65 (a proportion of the screener workforce)) revealed that five of the six factors were sources of stress. The home/work interface was not found to be a stressor. The findings showed screeners experience: poor physical working conditions, excessive workloads, role conflict and ambiguity, risks and dangers, poor training, and a lack of career development. Poor working relationships between parents, colleagues, lead screeners, screening co-ordinators, and other District Health Board staff were also evident; screeners experienced verbal abuse, bullying, mistrust, favouritism, a lack of support, and unrealistically high expectations. Furthermore, stress at work affected screeners’ home life and vice versa. In addition, screeners reported physical, psychological, behavioural and organisational symptoms of stress. These results: (1) identify potential stressors and consequences of stress in the screener role, (2) provide an understanding of how newborn hearing screeners perceive and experience stress, and (3) contribute new information that will assist in changes to the screener role.