Evaluation des pratiques de diagnostic de stress au sein d'entreprises belges: facteurs bloquants et facteurs stimulants

Stress at work has become a major problematic in Europe this last decade. The European and national legal framework has been developed, and several methods for stress diagnosis and stress management intervention can be listed. In this context, a systematic examination of diagnosis and interventions taking place in companies is necessary. The objectives of the study were 1) the evaluation of work stress diagnosis practices among Belgian companies, and 2) the identification of factors stimulating or blocking the implementation of stress management interventions. A survey was used to collect data about work stress diagnosis practices. The first objective was explored trough qualitative open questions about stress diagnosis and intervention. The second objective was achieved using a specific questionnaire elaborated for the purpose of the study. On the basis of a review of the scientific literature, this questionnaire assessed stimulating and blocking factors for implementing stress management interventions. The sample includes 180 Belgian companies from different sectors of activity and with different size (from 20 to more than 10000 workers). Only one out of six companies had implemented a diagnosis of stress. Among companies with a stress diagnosis, only one out of two had implemented actions, and only one out of four entered in an evaluation stage. Stimulating factors related to the methodology implemented and the communication process were identified, as well as blocking factors concerned with financial/temporal constraints and the context of change in the company, a factor which is rather new regarding the existing literature. The discussion includes four points of analysis. The interventions which are implemented are clearly concerned with the primary approach focusing on the work environment. Second, the results give support to the necessity for a systematic evaluation process of stress management interventions. Moreover the results give evidence for a need of sensitization and publication of best practices about the necessary stages in the stress prevention process as well as about stimulating and blocking factors. This holds especially true for small size companies which realize less diagnosis than bigger ones. It is also important for companies which are not yet involved in a stress diagnosis, that are less aware of the impact of financial and temporal constraints.