Financial recession as a predictor of stress in human service professionals: The case of Cyprus

This article presents the first survey ever conducted in Cyprus in relation to stress in social service organizations as a result of budgetary cuts due to the financial recession the country entered in 2010. Social service professionals were asked whether and how they experienced the current economic crisis in their work. The aim of the study was to examine whether the recent economic crisis in Cyprus was a predictor for stress. This article has no intention of examining stress per se, but rather the general consequences for professionals working in governmental and non-governmental social service organizations. The purpose of the study is to examine whether the current financial crisis in Cyprus has affected the work of social service professionals. The participants in our study included social workers, psychologists and sociologists, as well as administrative staff from governmental and non-governmental social service agencies and volunteer organizations. In total, 205 professionals working in 200 social service agencies in Cyprus took part in this survey by completing a questionnaire. A focus group consisting of eight individuals was also formed. The results indicate that social service professionals have been significantly affected by the recent financial recession in Cyprus.