A Study On The Work Stress Of Community Workers In Public Health Emergencies

In early 2020,the first case of novel coronavirus pneumonia("New Coronavirus Pneumonia")in China was found in Wuhan,and in the past two years,the virus has become widespread across the country,and the virus has continued to diffuse,threatening public safety and social stability.A new phase,Shanghai faces an extremely serious major public health event with sudden and urgent characteristics since March.Community workers,as the main force in the battle against the epidemic,have an increased burden,high mental tension,and negative emotions in the fight against the epidemic,and are in a long-term high-pressure environment that requires attention and support.This study is to explore the work stress of community workers in fighting the epidemic during the new crown epidemic and the dynamic changes that accompany the development of the epidemic,as well as their ways of coping.This study selected 21 community workers in Shanghai for in-depth interviews,guided by interaction theory,to present the stressful situation of community workers in this community antiepidemic situation,further explore the causes of stress,and suggest specific directions for social work support for community workers’ development.The study found that the process of stress change during the community workers’anti-epidemic period was characterized by stages and went through three phases,with stress manifesting itself as a period of confusion,a period of perseverance,and a period of recovery;each phase began with a change in policy direction,and changes in personal stress came from changes in work tasks and the environment.The first stage is the period of confusion,when the epidemic is sudden,urgent,and unpredictable,and community workers are in a state of disturbed mindset and disoriented behavior;the second stage is the period of perseverance,when the community becomes an important battleground against the epidemic,and the situation of increased tasks imposes a double burden on community workers physically and mentally,but the support of resources relieves the pressure;the third stage is the period of recovery,when the resumption of work and production is the main line of policy.Community workers also began to think about their own career choices during this phase,when demographic changes within the community and resource and team rebuilding became the focus of efforts.The study concluded that the special structural position of community workers,the inability to manage organizations within the community,and the legacy of historical community problems became resistance to the prevention work and increased the pressure of the work.First,the structural position of community workers is very difficult,which is manifested by the need to implement the rigid requirements of government instructions on the one hand and respond to the multiple needs of residents on the other.Secondly,the organization and management within the community are poor,including unreasonable team structure,lack of integration and linkage between subjects,and insufficient daily data base.Again,the community’s original legacy of governance problems also became a hindrance during the resistance period,including poor hardware facilities and complex demographic structure.The study results indicate that the pressure on community workers in the new crown epidemic situation has increased abruptly.Under the unchangeable structural position,in the face of the severe epidemic development,it is necessary to make a good community preparedness system,improve the working mechanism,fill the gap between instructions and needs,and make a good reserve of mass resources.The study inspires that the field of social work should not only promote the cultivation of community workers’ professional capacity,but also pay attention to the psychological construction of community workers,provide psychological support,and promote the benign development of community work.