AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
3.2 Correlation analyses
The second aim of the present research was to find out whether
there were relationships between the measured variables:
emotional exhaustion, perceived stress, overload by family
responsibilities and self-care areas. Based on the correlation
analyses (Spearmen correlation coefficients, Table 2), it can be
concluded that there are significant moderate positive
interrelations between emotional exhaustion and perceived stress
(r = 0.542, p<0.01), emotional exhaustion and family overload (r
= 0.345, p<0.05) and between perceived stress and family
overload (r = 0.369, p<0.01).
In terms of the relationships between overload at work and
family and performed self-care activities, the following
relationships have been found: emotional exhaustion (as one of
the indicators of work overload) correlated significantly and
negatively with each of the areas of self-care (psychological – r
= -0.374, p<0.05; work - r = -0.281, p<0.05, health- r = -0.513,
p<0.05 and physical - r = -0.333, p<0.05). On the other hand,
perceived stress (the second indicator of work overload)
correlated negatively with psychological (r = -0.551, p<0.05),
work (r = -0.423, p<0.01) and health self-care (r = -0.442,
p<0.05). However, the relationship with physical self-care (r = -
0.195) has not been confirmed. Finally, negative correlations
between family overload and performed activities of self-care in
all areas – psychological (r = -0.293, p<0.05), work (r = -0.316,
p<0.01), health (r = -0.322, p<0.05) and physical (r = -0.223)
were identified.
Table 2: Results of correlation analyses
(*p≤0.05; ** p < 0.01)
Measure subscales
Perceived
stress
Emotional
exhaustion
Family
overload
Self-care
psychological
Self-care
work
Self-care
health
Self-care –
physical
Perceived stress
-
0.542*
0.369**
-0.551*
-0.423**
-0.442*
-0.195
Emotional exhaustion
0.542*
-
0.345*
-0.374*
-0.281*
-0.513*
-0.333*
Family overload
0.369**
0.345*
-
-0.293*
-0.316**
-0.322*
-0.223
3.3 Results of group comparison
The final and most important goal of the research was to clarify
the level and structure of self-care in women with dual overload.
In the current research, dual role overload has been defined as
the women who had a score above the mean in the following
variables: emotional exhaustion or perceived stress (or both) and
at the same time showed an above mean score for family
overload. 44 women (39.3%) out of the 112 women met these
criteria. The comparison group consisted of 68 women (60.7%),
who, in contrast, showed an average level of overload at work
(specifically in emotional exhaustion and perceived stress) and
in the family. It was decided not to work with extreme groups
because of excessive data loss. Nevertheless, the data
distribution was non-normal, which led to the decision to use
non-parametric statistical procedures (Mann-Whitney U test).
The results of the analyses are presented in Table 3. The mean
scores are presented rather than the mean rank.
Women with a higher level of dual role overload significantly
differed from women with a lower one. This was particularly in
the performance of psychological self-care, self-care at work and
self-care related to health. In the area of self-care in the context
of physical activities, there were no differences identified. It can
be said that women who experience higher overload both at
work and in their families performed psychological self-care
activities less frequently (e.g. activities related to interpersonal
relationships, “black thoughts” suppression). They also were less
likely to frequently perform self-care activities at work (e.g.
creating a good atmosphere at work, making good relationships
with colleagues) as well as health sustaining activities (activities
performed in the event of health problems) compared to the
group of women experiencing lower dual role overload.
Table 3: Results of group comparison (group with higher level of dual role overload N=44, group with lower level of dual role overload
N=68, range of scale 1-5)
Measured variables
Groups according to the
level of dual role overload
M
SD
Mann-Whitney U test
*p≤0.05
Self-care - psychological
higher level
2.53
0.76
0.023*
lower level
3.62
0.56
Self-care - work
higher level
1.74
0.88
0.014*
lower level
2.52
0.71
Self-care - health
higher level
2.03
0.56
0.004*
lower level
2.97
0.41
Self-care – physical
higher level
1.82
0.44
0.234
lower level
2.11
0.51
4 Discussion and conclusion
Recently, there has been a significant increase in the workload
and negative consequences of work, especially in the social and
health care sectors
(Győrffy et al., 2016; Tabaková et al. 2011).
The situation of women working in these areas, as well as in
others, is specific in terms of experiencing overload. Against this
background of increasing overload in women, triggers can be
found: high demands at work and family, role conflict, high
expectations, women's own needs, dissatisfaction with quality of
the role fulfilment and others (Fedáková et al., 2008; Pearson,
2008). The main mission of helping professions is to care for
others. However, it is often forgotten that one of the basic
conditions for an individual to be able to help others is the need
to take care of his/her own mental and physical health (Wise,
Hersh, Gibson, 2012; Hricová, 2018). In this context, the main
aims of the research were also determined.
The initial focus of the research was on exploring workload
(specifically in the form of emotional exhaustion and perceived
stress) and the family overload of women working in helping
professions as well as showing the links between these variables.
The results of the descriptive analysis show that women
experience a medium level of emotional exhaustion and a higher
level of stress. At the same time, women perceive a higher level
of family overload which is in line with the findings of Pavalko,
Woodbury (2000).
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