Perceived stress and satisfaction of direct-care staff members in community residences for mentally retarded adults.

Potential sources of stress and satisfaction as perceived by direct-care staff members in community residences for mentally retarded adults were investigated. Results indicated that stress and satisfaction are not polar opposites but two largely separate dimensions of workers' experiences. In addition, sources of satisfaction and stress had two components, resident-related and work-related. Analysis of 15 background characteristics yielded few significant relationships with workers' levels of stress or satisfaction.