Hairdressing is one of the few non-health professional occupations where workers physically interact with clients, who are often comfortable in confiding private information to them. Despite this, relatively little is known about how hairdressers understand and experience this role as informal confidants. This study aimed to address this using an in-depth qualitative approach to capture what hairdressers are hearing from clients, and how hairdressers respond and feel about supporting clients. Participant led interviews with prompt questions were conducted in South Australia in 2019, transcribed and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Results indicate clients disclose information about family, health, identity, mental health and women's health. Important themes generated in relation to the role of hairdressers included: their need to have a client focus; blurring role boundaries; behaving like a therapist and, providing a place of safety and advice, while also maintaining confidentiality. Hairdressers reported feeling undervalued, emotionally drained, and in need of support in their role, but conversely, also reported having good job satisfaction. Further research is needed to examine whether hairdresser-client interactions may promote better mental and physical health outcomes for clients due to psychological buffering arising from the social support provided by hairdressers, as well as the impact on hairdressers and implications for their training.

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美发师作为社会支持的来源：从澳大利亚美发师的角度对客户披露的定性研究

美发是为数不多的非健康专业职业之一，工作人员与客户进行身体互动，他们通常乐于向他们透露私人信息。尽管如此，对于美发师如何理解和体验这种非正式知己的角色知之甚少。本研究旨在使用深入的定性方法来解决这个问题，以捕捉美发师从客户那里听到的信息，以及美发师对支持客户的反应和感受。2019 年在南澳大利亚进行了由参与者主导的带提示问题的访谈，并使用主题分析进行转录和分析。结果表明，客户披露了有关家庭、健康、身份、心理健康和女性健康的信息。与美发师角色相关的重要主题包括：他们需要以客户为中心；模糊角色界限；表现得像治疗师，提供安全和建议的地方，同时保持机密性。美发师报告说感觉被低估了，情绪低落，需要支持他们的角色，但相反，他们也报告说他们的工作满意度很好。由于美发师提供的社会支持所产生的心理缓冲，以及对美发师的影响和对他们培训的影响，需要进一步的研究来检验美发师与客户的互动是否可以促进客户更好的身心健康结果。并且在他们的角色中需要支持，但相反，他们也报告有良好的工作满意度。由于美发师提供的社会支持所产生的心理缓冲，以及对美发师的影响和对他们培训的影响，需要进一步的研究来检验美发师与客户的互动是否可以促进客户更好的身心健康结果。并且在他们的角色中需要支持，但相反，他们也报告有良好的工作满意度。由于美发师提供的社会支持所产生的心理缓冲，以及对美发师的影响和对他们培训的影响，需要进一步的研究来检验美发师与客户的互动是否可以促进客户更好的身心健康结果。