背景和目的：了解長期照護機構中照護人員之工作壓力與社會支持程度現況，以及分析與兩者有關之因素。方法：採用橫斷式研究設計，以分層抽樣方式選取台灣中部27家機構共301名照護人員為研究對象，並以結構式問卷進行資料收集，問卷內容包含人口學特徵、工作條件、工作壓力量表、以及社會支持量表(包括需求與足夠程度)，各量表均以李克特5分法計分。利用因素分析探索構成工作壓力或社會支持的因素，以複迴歸方法分析與工作壓力或與社會支持具有顯著相關之因子。結果：研究對象的工作壓力、社會支持需求程度、以及社會支持足夠程度平均分數為2.59、3.91、與3.17分；因素分析結果顯示，壓力來源共可歸納為四個因素，而社會支持度項目則可歸納為三個因素。複迴歸分析結果顯示，服務於護理之家、未婚、或社會支持足夠程度越低者，其工作壓力越高；需輪三班或年齡愈低者，其社會支持需求程度愈高；而需輪三班工作者、年資愈短者、或男性，其社會支持足夠程度則顯著較低。結論：工作壓力與社會支持足夠程度間呈現顯著負相關；護理之家或未婚之照護者有較高之工作壓力，而機構照護者自覺之社會支持需求程度與足夠程度間仍然存有落差，未來應設法提供長期照護機構中照護人員的社會支持系統，特別是那些需輪三班工作、男性、或年資短之照護者。

Background and Purpose: To assess the job stress and social support amongcaregivers working in long-term care institutions, and to explore factors associated withjob stress or social support. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional survey of a total of301 caregivers from 27 long-term care institutions in Taichung area. Data were collectedthrough both structured questionnaire and stress/social rating scales Data includeindividual's demographic characteristics, work conditions, job stress, and social support,in which a rating of 5 is indicative of the highest level of stress and social support. Factoranalysis techniques were used to reduce rating scales of job stress and social support.Analysis of multiple regression was used to identify correlates significantly associatedwith job stress or social support. Results: The average score for job stress, social supportneed, and the extent of social support sufficiency was 2.59, 3.91, and 3.17, respectively.Factor analysis suggested four and three components that constitute job stress and socialsupport, respectively. Analysis of multiple regression indicated that the participants whowere nursing home workers, single, or having lower social support sufficiency tended toexperience significantly higher job stress. With respect to social support, the participantswith third-shift work or younger age needed more social support, whereas inadequatesocial support was significantly associated with third-shift work, shorter employment asa caregiver, or being amaleworker. Conclusion: There is an inverse relationship betweenjob stress and social support sufficiency. Unwedded and nursing home employedcaregivers experienced a higher level of job stress, and the social support was generallyinadequate for caregivers. Future efforts should be made to provide the caregivers withan effective social support system in particular for those who are third-shift workers,males, or caregivers with shorter employment.