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The influence of perceived professional adequacy on the coping stategies of counselling professionals
Author
Koh, Maximilian
Supervisor
Lim, Kam Ming
Abstract
Perceived competence and control over the environment has been recognised as a potential variable in the occupational stress experience. As such, this study examined the various coping strategies that counselling professionals in Singapore used when faced with occupational stress. Specifically, the research investigates the effect that perceived control has on these coping strategies.
A total of 76 counselling professionals from private and government organisations representing different counselling organisational cultures and structures participated in this study. The participants provided demographic information and completed the Carver COPE measure as well as a modified version of the Therapist Stress Scale. The data provided information regarding coping styles, the level of occupational stress and the perception of control over the various stressors.
The results indicated that problem-focused is the predominant coping strategy used by the counselling professionals in Singapore. Comparison on demographic profiles found that female professionals adopted significantly more emotion-focused coping than the male professionals. Age and work experience appear to be significant contributing factors in maladaptive coping. The results also supported the hypotheses that perception of control is negatively related to stress levels and is positively related to use of problem-focused coping strategies.
A total of 76 counselling professionals from private and government organisations representing different counselling organisational cultures and structures participated in this study. The participants provided demographic information and completed the Carver COPE measure as well as a modified version of the Therapist Stress Scale. The data provided information regarding coping styles, the level of occupational stress and the perception of control over the various stressors.
The results indicated that problem-focused is the predominant coping strategy used by the counselling professionals in Singapore. Comparison on demographic profiles found that female professionals adopted significantly more emotion-focused coping than the male professionals. Age and work experience appear to be significant contributing factors in maladaptive coping. The results also supported the hypotheses that perception of control is negatively related to stress levels and is positively related to use of problem-focused coping strategies.
Date Issued
2008
Call Number
BF637.C6 Koh
Date Submitted
2008