| Summary: | This descriptive study explores the experience of stress and coping by volunteers working in a cancer support program. Using a model developed by Mary Vachon (1987) who looked at occupational stress of health professionals in critical care areas, methods of content analysis were applied to interviews with six volunteers, three of whom were cancer survivors. Differences in the quality of the stress and in the coping experience were explored. Findings indicate that occupational stress was present for volunteers. The major stressors common to all were issues of relationships with patients and the demands of the role. For volunteers who had had a cancer diagnosis a major stressor distinguishing them was the death of volunteer colleagues. Overall, volunteers utilized a range of coping resources offered by the organization and from within themselves. Key implications include the need to acknowledge not only the strengths of the program and volunteers but the sources of stress, particularly the illness of volunteer colleagues. Maintaining an adequate staff-to-volunteer ratio is essential. Suggestions for volunteer support structures are offered.
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