Organizational and individual factors explaining pressure experienced by social welfare managers: A Finnish perspective

Abstract This study examines the external pressures experienced by social welfare managers due to the expectations and demands they face, and factors predicting the pressures amidst extensive structural integration of healthcare and social welfare services in Finland. Data were collected through a census of social welfare managers in wellbeing services counties across Finland, with 358 out of 971 eligible managers participating. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with pressure, including organizational and individual factors. The findings revealed that managers experienced pressure on average monthly, most frequently in relation to limited resources. The experience of pressure was significantly influenced by factors relating to the organizational context, with financial constraints, ethical and strategic management contexts, and management level emerging as statistically significant predictors. The ability to influence one’s work also had a significant impact, although the strongest predictor was managers’ experience of ethical strain, where personal values conflicted with expectations of their management role. Solutions for reducing pressure should prioritize addressing organizational factors that drive managerial pressure, with individual factors being a secondary focus.