A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing qualification of the Department of Nursing
Signed on 19 November 2015, JohannesburgBackground: According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, no 85 of 1993, Section 8, employers need to ensure a healthy and safe environment for employees to work in. Anecdotal evidence shows that the only psychosocial support ministers receive is from their peers. Purpose and objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the psychosocial work environment of ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church. The objectives are to explore the psychosocial work environment; to describe the existing psychosocial support for and to establish preferred supporting programmes in dealing with stress, regarding psychosocial health care programmes for ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Research design and method: A quantitative survey study, with a self-administered questionnaire has been e-mailed to the total sample of respective participants using the REDCap system.
Data analysis: Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the socio-demographic information. Data was exported using Redcap and outcome data was presented with tables; numerical data was described using means (with standard deviations) and categorical data was presented using frequencies (counts) and percentages. Open questions were analysed and emerging themes were identified. Findings: High emotional work demands, poor leadership quality and ineffective social support were some of major indicators of ill health, burnout and stress in this study of the psychosocial work environment. Conclusions: The findings of the study highlighted the need for an occupational health programme due to the fact that ministers in these regions are exposed to psychosocial hazards in the work environment. Key words: Dutch Reformed Church, psychosocial work environment, ministers, occupational healt
