Effects of Locus of Control and Motives on Stress and Effectiveness: A Study of Women Managers

Abstract

There is a general tendency to overemphasise the impact of stress on the effectiveness of women in managerial roles. It is a known fact that women managers have dual roles to play, one at the home front and the other at the work front where they have to shoulder responsibilities similar to their male counterparts. This is likely to cause high level of stress which can have an adverse effect on their effectiveness. The present study, however, points to the contrary, where it is seen that certain intrinsic factors which are basically inherent within an individual's personality, like an Internal Locus of Control and a high need for Achievement can, to some extent, reduce the impact of stress experienced by the individuals. This can be inferred on the basis of the results of the present study where it is found that achievement motive has a negative relationship with stress and a positive relationship with role efficacy. Similarly, it is established that Internal Locus of Control has a negative relationship with stress and positive relationship with role efficacy. Since stress is inevitable, more so in the case of women in managerial positions, and it is mainly due to extrinsic factors which exert pressures both in the work environment and at the home front, over which one does not have much control, they need to look inwards and identify and rely on intrinsic strengths, such as an internal orientation and achievement orientation as these can, to a great extent, help them handle stress in a positive manner and not allow it to adversely affect either their health or their work performance.