[Job stress in agents at the socio-educational service centers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul].

The study was both to understand the association of work stress, socio-demographic and labor characteristics, habits and working conditions of the Socio-educational agents in the state of Rio Grande do Sul Brazil. It was a cross-sectional study with 881 agents of the Socio-educational Service Centers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Brazilian version of the Job Stress Scale for assessment of work stress has been applied. Were classified in a situation of high strain 19.2% of the agents. The following factors were related to job stress, the need for counseling lack of leisure time, day shift work, dissatisfaction with the workplace, the need for absence from work due to health problems and insufficient scale work. There is a need to further research working conditions and execution of Occupational Health Service acting in order to minimize the effects of psychological demands at work of a socio-educational agent