The article deals with stress experienced by social welfare professionals in different sociocultural context.  The comparison of inter-professional stressogenity shows that the greatest stress is experienced by the representatives of social sphere professions (as social workers, pedagogues). The main aim of the article is to disclose the contexts of stress experienced by social welfare professionals in Baltic countries (Lithuania and Latvia) and Great Britain. Profesionals' experiences were analysed employing the qualitative approach (semi-structured written interview was used). Reconstructing the context of the stress experienced by specialists of social welfare professions of these countries, certain differences showed up.

The paper focuses on the issues of societal attitude towards the social worker’s profession. Aiming to reveal the societal attitude towards manifestation of the social worker’s profession in Lithuania and the Ukraine, a quantitative research method has been chosen, using a semi-standardised questionnaire. The research data analysis employed a non-parametric statistical method – Kruskal-Wallis test. The hypothesis raised at the beginning of the research has been partly proven: it is likely that society has no clear vision on what are the characteristics of the content of professional activities of a social worker. The answers of the respondents (N=784) suggest that they cannot exactly say what social work is; but understand where and with what kinds of people’s groups the staff can work. They do not single out professional competences; however, they name the knowledge, abilities which are required for a social worker. They understand the values which are not attributed to general values but rather particularly oriented to a client, and know real material condition of a social worker, i.e. that this job is low paid.