Stress and coping in behavioral healthcare: a qualitative study

Purpose – Healthcare workers are facing unprecedented levels of stress, leading to increased burnout and intentions to leave the profession. Through a qualitative study of behavioral healthcare workers in an urban community hospital, we identify specific behaviors and cognitive beliefs to cope with workplace stressors. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews of key personnel of a behavioral healthcare facility (n = 25) were conducted over a three-month period. Participants were asked to describe the current environment and procedures of the department. Data were analyzed through thematic coding following the Gioia methodology. Findings – We found workers identify threats in terms of a dangerous environment, financial security and unexpected conditions without sources of assistance from external resources, internal resources and effective management. Workers coped with this stress through problem-based coping strategies including deviant workplace behavior and justification of the system. Workers engaged in emotion-based strategies of meaningful work, behavioral justification and disengagement. Originality/value – Based on our findings, we offer a model identifying specific coping behaviors and beliefs in response to workplace stress. We set forth a future research agenda in which the relationships in the model may be investigated through quantitative research methods.