Understanding professional distress through social representations: investigating the shared experience of healthcare social workers in Canada

Background Our study sought to refine our understanding of professional distress by examining the experience of healthcare social workers in three distinct Canadian provinces: Manitoba, Ontario and New-Brunswick. Method Thirty semi-directed interviews were conducted to explore the social workers’ social representation of professional distress and its ties to professional identity and growing organizational constraints. Results Perceived attitudes, expectations, work-life imbalances and negative workplace experiences were all allege to increase the subjective experience of distress. Conclusion The representational bearings of professional distress are a necessary line of enquiry to expand our understanding of the lived experience of Canadian healthcare social workers.