Sources and determinants of job stress among employees working in therapeutic toddler classes in Dutch rehabilitation centres

Abstract

The first purpose of this study was to determine to what degree infant teachers and therapists in Dutch therapeutic toddler classes perceive job stress. Another purpose was to identify the sources of job stress. Further, this study examined whether infant teachers, physical, occupational and speech therapists have to cope with different degrees of job stress and, finally, the influence of staff characteristics on the degree of job stress was investigated. Sixty-two infant teachers and 88 therapists working in therapeutic toddler classes completed a questionnaire for job stress. Most job stress was perceived to be a result of lack of non-contact time. Nine sources of job stress were identified. The four disciplines responded differently to the sources of stress. Regression analysis showed profession to be the strongest predictor of job stress.