The impact of culture on physician stress and coping.

In a qualitative research study, a group of 10 community-based practicing family physicians were interviewed to determine their career values, sources of stress, and methods of coping. Research participants were identified as healthy and satisfied with their careers. To maximize the sample's diversity and determine potential racial differences in physician stress and coping, two African-American family physicians were requested to participate in the study. In this sample group, stress often was produced when a conflict existed between the person and the work environment. Stress also was created if values were manifested in unhealthy and unbalanced ways. Research participants described various learned strategies that enabled them to cope more effectively. An Africentric perspective, which emphasizes group needs and family values, distinguished the presentations of the African-American physicians. Results suggested that culture is a significant variable of influence in how stress and coping is experienced, and that assessing developmental processes in stress and coping is important.