Institute for Social Science Research

This paper reports on an exploratory study designed to identify the sources of work stress for ancillary nursing staff who cared for severely and profoundly retarded residents of a state institution. The study assesses the role of work-based social support in reducing the negative impact of job stress on the staff's health. Differences between female and male nursing staff with regard to their perceptions of job stress, their use of work-based social supports, and their health was another focus of the investigation