Table 2 Total job strain and sub-factors (F1 – F5) from the SDCS, with included statements

Total job strain

226

1.05—9.99

4.43 (1.88)

F1: Frustrated empathy

226

1.00—14.86

4.73 (2.26)

I see other staff behaving toward an older person in ways that show they do not understand the effects of dementia

5.33

I see that an older person is suffering

5.95

Older persons do not receive the care I feel they are entitled to

5.79

I see the families of older persons suffering

4.25

I see older persons being mistreated by their families

4.04

I see other staff treating older persons badly

3.26

Other staff tries to change what I have done for an older person

4.47

F2: Difficulties understanding and interpreting

226

1.00—8.29

3.08 (1.66)

I have difficulties understanding what older persons are thinking

3.70

I have difficulties understanding what older persons are trying to communicate

2.91

I have difficulties understanding older persons’ needs

2.69

I find it difficult to know what is best for older persons

2.97

I worry I might upset or hurt older persons because I do not understand their needs

3.08

I cannot understand why older persons behave the way they do

2.90

I find it difficult to explain to older persons what is happening in situations which may upset them (e.g., showering, bathing, or toileting)

3.28

F3: Balancing competing needs

226

1.00—11.60

4.53 (2.28)

I must balance the needs of the older person against the needs of his or her family

4.57

I must balance the needs of the older person against the needs of other older persons

4.58

I must prioritize on the basis of urgency rather than fairness or the needs of older persons

5.17

Older persons resist the care I want to provide

4.55

I must balance the safety of older persons against their quality of life

3.77

F4: Balancing emotional involvement

226

1.00—13.50

4.51 (2.31)

When an older person dies or must move, I feel as though I have lost a relative or close friend

4.09

I feel that older persons are highly dependent on me

5.71

I wish I knew more about older persons so that I could understand them better

4.24

I cannot stop thinking about older persons when I am away from work

3.80

F5: Lack of recognition

226

1.2 5- 14.25

5.34 (2.67)

I feel that my work is not valued by others

4.83

I want to do much more for older persons than my employers will allow

6.55

My employers do not appreciate the work I’m doing

4.28

Families of older persons do not seem to understand how difficult it is to care for their relative

5.70