Work distress profile

Figure 6.6 Normative data from a sample of 275 school psychologists can be used to compare individual scores from the "Work Distress Profile." Adapted from Rice (1992). With permission.

We are at a good point in our discussion for you to complete the questionnaire in Figure 6.5. It was developed by Rice (1992) to identify individuals various workplace stressors. Instructions for scoring your distress profile are included. The survey addresses three domains of work distress—interpersonal relations, physical demands, and level of mental interest—and these are totaled for an overall distress score. 

Economists have worked hard at producing measures to quantify these two concepts. A number of indexes have been produced, the meaning of which is uncertain and discussion of which is beyond the scope of this chapter. They include the Nottingham Health Prohle, the American Sickness Impact profile and the Rosser Health Index. The Rosser Index has been used to produce a Quality Adjusted Life Year or QALY. Each year of life is discounted by a factor reflecting the disability and distress suffered during the year. The factor is obtained by asking people to estimate what number of years of perfect health would be equivalent to 10 years of life in a particular state of disability. 

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