Working with Socially Maladjusted Youths and Children With Developmental Disorders. Predictors and Correlations of Health Among Personnel in Youth Centres

Authors

  • Justyna Szrajda 1. Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń,ul. Curie-Sklodowskiej 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4698-520X
  • Ewa Sygit-Kowalkowska 2. Institute of Psychology, Department of Organizational and Management Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, ul. Staffa 1, 85-867 Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5909-5516
  • Magdalena Weber-Rajek 3. Department of Physiotherapy, Division of Clinical Physiotherapy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Technikow 3, 85-801 Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3938-1571
  • Malwina Tudorowska Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7056-7120
  • Marcin Ziółkowski Department of Preventive Nursing, Division of Psychiatric Nursing, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Lukasiewicza 1, 85-821 Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7707-7290
  • Alina Borkowska Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. M. Curie Skłodowskiej 9, 85–094 Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7305-0242

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20191.155.169

Keywords:

teachers, job stress, mental health

Abstract

Abstract

Background

Representatives of helping professions who are working with socially maladjusted youths and children with developmental disorders are particularly exposed to occupational stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate mental and physical well-being, as well as their correlates and predictors in a group of employees working at youth educational centres and sociotherapy centres.

Materials and Methods

A total of 96 employees working at youth educational centres and sociotherapy centres took part in the study. The following psychometric tools were used: the Psychosocial Working Conditions Questionnaire, the Mini-COPE, the LOT-R, and the GSES.

Results

The results obtained indicate that people working in helping professions experience mental and physical health problems. Only 3% of the subjects declared they sleep all night. Over 40% and over 35% of the subjects estimate they suffer from low mood and irritation episodes, respectively, rather frequently or continually. Subjects with poorer mental health are more likely to use Helplessness, Avoidance behaviours, or Turning to religion to cope with stress. The strongest predictor of mental well-being is the sense of self-efficacy. Whereas, the strongest predictor of physical well-being is the ability to cope with stress by giving into the feeling of Helplessness.

 

Conclusions

The study demonstrated poor mental and physical well-being of the subjects. A statistically significant correlation was found between sex and the level of mental and physical health. Employees working at youth educational centres and sociotherapy centres with better mental and physical well-being had a stronger sense of self-efficacy and a higher level of life optimism.

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Author Biography

  • Malwina Tudorowska, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz

    Author is a psychologist, psychotherapist and sociotherapist. She works in the psychiatric department of ‘Gizinscy’ Medical Centre in Bydgoszcz. She is also engaged with the Cracow Psychodynamic Centre, where she studies psychoteraphy. As a PhD candidate in the Collegium Medicum of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Bydgoszcz, she undertakes research on the cognitive-behavioral therapy of people suffering from the chronic fatigue syndrom. The treatment emphasises self-help and facilitates recovery by altering those patient’s cognitions and behavior that perpetuate symptoms and disability.

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Published

2019-06-30

How to Cite

Szrajda, J., Sygit-Kowalkowska, E., Weber-Rajek, M., Tudorowska, M., Ziółkowski, M., & Borkowska, A. (2019). Working with Socially Maladjusted Youths and Children With Developmental Disorders. Predictors and Correlations of Health Among Personnel in Youth Centres. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 10(1), 155-169. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20191.155.169

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