Occupational stress and its predictors in radiographers

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to establish the level of occupational stress in UK NHS radiographers, and to examine its causes. A total of more than 1600 radiographers sampled nationally completed a postal questionnaire. Four groups were represented – mammography, diagnostics, radiotherapy, and ultrasound – and both junior staff and superintendents were examined.MethodThe questionnaire measured role ambiguity, role conflict, work problems, social support from colleagues, and perceived stress.ResultsLevels of perceived stress were high in all four groups. The mean was significantly lower in the mammography group than the others, however, and junior staff reported lower levels than superintendents. Role ambiguity, role conflict and work problems all contributed significantly to stress, but the effects were sometimes buffered by social support from colleagues.ConclusionThe implications of the findings are discussed for theory and for policy and practice: occupational stress was predicted by intrinsic features of the job; the levels were similar to those reported by other NHS professionals; and the pattern of findings suggests possible ways to intervene to reduce it.