CHOQUE DE REALIDADE: um estudo sobre stress ocupacional e qualidade de vida no trabalho em Instituto Federal no Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The occupational stress and the quality of working life (QWL) are the subjects approached in this research work. The occupational stress has been representing an intervening factor in work relations of Higher Education professors of a federal teaching network. Absences, conflicts of power, stress in the activities and work leaves are examples of the stressing factors, which lead to some questionings on how these teachers who go through these factors feel. Regarding QWL, we observed what and how the professors understand this quality. We also analyzed the relation between the occupational stress and the QWL. Therefore, we raise the guiding question: How does the occupational stress affects QWL, from the perspective of higher education professors, of a federal teaching institution, in the city of Rio de Janeiro? As the general objective, we aimed to analyze the relation between the occupational stress and que QWL of higher education professors, how they understand occupational stress and QWL, and analyze the effects of the occupational stress on the QWL. The approach was qualitative and the exploratory type. For data collection, we used the semi-structured interviews with the participation of 34 professors, located in three campi divided between Baixada Fluminense and the south fluminense, who have been working for more than two years as professors in the network. The technique chosen for data treatment was the analysis of content. The research was structured in two models: occupational stress and QWL based on the researches of Coopes et. Al (1988) and Vilas Boas & Morin (2014, 2015). In the model of Cooper et. al (1988) we confirmed the sources of pressure such as intrinsic work and interpersonal relations. In the general model of quality of working life by Vilas Boas & Morin (2014, 2015) we realized the applicability of the categories of the model. The professors recognized the relation between stress and QWL and confirmed that one of the factors for the lack of QWL in the organizational environment are caused by the relations with the superiors, the conflicts stablished in the interpersonal relations and the lack of planning and organization of work. Some work leaves, due to psychological diseases, transferences to other campi, and stress in relationships came from the lack of QWL, raising the stress level, almost causing total exhaustion. Other sources of pressure and dimensions appear, which lead to the importance of the research continuation with professors, contributing to strategies that balance the indicators that affect the professor’s health, presented and analyzed in this research, in order to minimize this situation.