I gränslandet mellan stress och utmattning En kvalitativ studie om socialsekreterares erfarenheter av emotionellt krävande arbete

Sammanfattning

This qualitative study aimed to examine how social workers experience emotionally demanding work and how they manage emotionally demanding work and how they manage emotions that arise in their professional practice. The study was based on seven semi-structured interviews with social workers employed within Swedish social services, primarily in social assistance. The empirical material was analysed through thematic analysis using Hochschild’s theory of emotional labour and Lazarus and Folkman’s coping theory as theoretical frameworks. The findings showed that emotional demands were described as a central and integrated part of social work practice. The participants experienced emotional burden through continuous exposure to clients' difficult life situations, traumatic stories and organisational demands such as high workload, time pressure, and limited resources. The results also indicated that social workers were expected to regulate and control their emotions in order to maintain a professional approach in client interactions. Several coping strategies were identified, including emotional distancing, collegial support, reflection, and creating boundaries between work and private life. At the same time, the findings showed that emotional demands often affected the participants' well-being, recovery, and private relationships even after working hours. The study highlights the importance of understanding emotional labour as a significant aspect of social work and demonstrates how organisational conditions influence social workers' emotional wellbeing and ability to cope with work- related stress.