The idiosyncratic construction of stress: examples from medical work settings

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the subjective understanding of the work context and how it becomes stressful for an individual. It seeks to establish the individual dimensions of each person's situation in terms of the factors that are perceived to be stressful and also the ideas that underlie the meaning of stress for each person. Five case studies from medical work settings are used in this idiographic analysis of work stress. The situational elements relevant to each person were identified for a psychiatrist, theatre nurse, paediatrician, neurologist and optometry assistant. Repertory grid analysis was then used to extract the underlying constructs that gave meaning to stress for each person. Results indicated completely idiosyncratic perceptions of the meaning of stress and diverse situational determinants. It is argued that current approaches to theorising about stress in terms of general elements and common perceptions are challenged by these findings. Five separate cluster analyses of constructs and situations emphasised the vastly different situations or circumstances for each individual. In contrast to the findings of nomothetic research, a theoretical perspective evolving from the personal construction of the situation may be the significant determinant of anxiety and stressful reactions for each person. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.