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Stress in mothers on parental leave in relation to the risk of job loss
MELECKÁ, Renata
This thesis Stress in mothers on parental leave in connection with the risk of job loss deals with the issues of stress and unemployment phenomenon, as well as on the topic of employment of women, pregnant women and mothers, also on equal opportunities for women and men in the labor market, the systems of social security and on topics related to the return of mothers after maternity leave to the labor market. This work consists of two main parts - the theoretical and the research (empirical). The theoretical part deals with the above-mentioned problems and issues. The empirical part is focused on the research and descriptions of its results, where quantitative methods of data collection were use. For the purpose of this work the main target is a group of mothers on maternity leave. The data from respondents were collected using a questionnaire method. Collected data was then quantified using descriptive statistics. Two research questions and three hypotheses in total were defined. Hypotheses were statistically tested using statistical methods - ANOVA. The total number of 320 questionnaires from the target group was collected. To achieve the validity of the collected data and homogeneity of the sample, data collection was aimed exclusively at women, i.e. mothers on maternity leave from only the South Region. Aim of the work was to determine which group of mothers on parental leave more is more stressed mothers with a strong economic background or mothers with less strong economic background. Using a Likert scale was measured the extent of stress in mothers, who are not assured of having their job after returning from maternity leave. Using the above mentioned scale also was measured the stress in mothers on parental leave regarding their return to job and related duties, or finding a completely new job. Related to the results and testing, in the first hypothesis testing we found that mothers who do not receive any social security benefits, are more stressed than those mothers who receive benefits. Second hypothesis testing showed that mothers living with partners are less stressed than mothers who do not live with a partner. The third hypothesis testing found out that mothers on maternity leave, who are not assured of having their jobs after the maternity leave, are more stressed than mothers who have such certainty. From the results of the collected data was found out that most respondents are women aged twenty-five to thirty years, and women from thirty-one to thirty-five years. Mostly with the secondary school education (with graduation) and with university education. A large number of women working full-time and women cohabiting with a partner. A large majority of those mothers receives social security benefits. Also, a large number of women planned a combined parental leave with three years of geting the social security benefits. A considerable part of the interviewed mothers but also answered that along with the parental leave they do not have any another job. The results also showed that almost 80 % of respondents were not working at a leader position. Over 60 % of respondents are currently on parental leave with a child, a smaller part of the respondents with a second or third child. An interesting result is the fact that almost a half of respondents is planning another motherhood and nearly 60 % of them plan the second motherhood following the first one. The results of this research may lead to a consideration on the facts determined. For example, why most of the women do not work in a leader position despite their education. Or if women do really have such strong economic background to be able to continue with another parental leave. This work may help the women themselves, whether those planning to be a mother, expecting a child or having it already. Work can be as a basis or a handbook with an overview of the benefits of social security systems.
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Stressors in the work of social workers
MELECKÁ, Renata
This bachelor thesis ?Stressors in the work of social workers? deals with the problems associated with this helping profession. The social workers are very often influenced by various stressful factors. There are demands made on them in the form of lifelong learning and the authority in the social work required for the exercise of this profession. Furthermore, the social workers have to face the pressure from the demands of their clients or employers. These factors then influence the social worker in person, causing stressful reactions. Then, it also depends on how long are the workers exposed to stress, how can they resist the stress, whether they can be prevented from the stress or if someone else helps them to deal with the stress The thesis is divided into two main parts - the theoretical part and a research part. The theoretical part deals with the definition of terms, divided into chapters, essential to clarify this issue or extension of knowledge of this issue. Namely, the terms such as stress, stressors, stress responses, differences in dealing with the stress among men and women, the definition of a social worker and authorities in social work. Other terms are workload, burnout and its prevention. At the end of the theoretical part there are included terms such as prevention of stress and methods of dealing with stress included. The practical part of this thesis is based on quantitative research and processing of the collected data. This section also focuses on the research results. At first I had to determine the research objective. The research objective is to identify the subjective factors which have influence on social workers in the exercise of their profession and to reveal whether these factors influence the job performance or subjective well-being and physical and mental health of the social workers. When processing the data I used the questioning method and the technique of an anonymous questionnaire. The snowball method, which ensures higher participation of respondents in the research and heterogeneity of the research complex, proceeded. In general 56 respondents from different regions of the Czech Republic and various workplaces attended. I managed to collect the data during July, 2013. The research showed that the most of respondents reached the university degree, are under stress at work, but they are satisfied with their job. The majority of respondents stated that they considered changing their jobs. The common cause was low salary and bad relations with the employer. Also workload, lot of administration, working with clients, etc. The results further showed that the stress associated with the performance of this profession is managed by respondents in different ways. They often talk about their problems with the family or at the workplace they are offered the expert assistance in the form of supervision. The results also revealed that social workers to solve stress by themselves. Often via the help of family, which plays an important role in everyone's life. Then, they get rid of stress via music, relaxation, spiritual services, manual labor or going to a theatre. The final data also show that all hypotheses were proved false. It is therefore obvious that the identified stress factors of social workers with a long-term practice (over ten years) do not result in emotional, behavioral or physical sphere. The identified stress factors however affect the work performance and subjective well-being of social workers. This thesis may help as a study material for the general public or for trained social workers interested in this issue. I would also like to contribute to discover what is for social workers in the exercise of their profession the most stressful, and the acquired results can be inspiring for a further research.
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