Occupational Stress Management Research Articles

The privilege and the pressure: judges’ and magistrates’ reflections on the sources and impacts of stress in judicial work

There is growing evidence that judges and magistrates experience both high stress and high satisfaction in their work; however, the subjective experience of judicial stress and the cultural and professional factors shaping that experience remain largely unexamined. This qualitative study builds upon earlier quantitative research with the Australian judiciary, by exploring judges’ and magistrates’ perceptions of the sources and impacts of judicial stress and their ideas for court responses. Thematic analysis of 59 in-depth interviews with judicial officers from five Australian courts revealed eight themes pertaining to the better understanding and management of occupational stress within the judiciary. Implications for courts and individual judicial officers are discussed.

A Supportive Context as an Occupational Stress Management Strategy: Views from Ethekwini District Diagnostic Radiographers

A Supportive Context as an Occupational Stress Management Strategy: Views from Ethekwini District Diagnostic Radiographers

Occupational stress and stress management among female and male trainees

The transition from school to professional life is asignificant event for adolescents and young adults. It is not uncommon for fears or feelings of being overwhelmed to arise during this transitional period. Against this backdrop, the article examines the subjective stress experiences of trainees, with special consideration given to gender and various occupational settings. From seven Bavarian vocational schools, 1209 students were surveyed. Stress experiences, coping strategies, psychological and physical complaints, as well as occupational burdens were assessed. Relationships between demographic characteristics, professional settings, and stress experiences were investigated through bivariate and multivariate analyses. Female students report higher levels of stress and are more likely to use emotion-regulating stress coping strategies. Men more frequently attempt to compensate for stress through alcohol and drugs. Differences in stress burden between occupational groups are only evident in bivariate analysis. In multivariate analyses, the gender effect remains highly significant. Negative occupational demands and maladaptive coping strategies significantly promote the experience of stress. The results suggest that asignificant proportion of respondents perceive the training conditions as burdensome, are exposed to health risks, and respond inadequately to stress. The establishment of additional prevention programs in both the training company and in vocational school would be desirable.

Cognitive and behavioral approaches to occupational stress management: The case of adult education administrative workers in Nigeria.

Those in administrative positions in adult education are more likely to suffer from stress because of the hard work they do, long hours in the office, a lack of adequate medical and welfare packages, and a lack of financial aid. In this study, adult education workers in Nigeria were assessed on the effectiveness of a cognitive and behavioral approach to managing occupational stress in public administration. This study was a group-randomized trial in which 94 adult education workers occupy public administrative positions within Enugu State, Nigeria, participated. Data were collected using 2 instruments, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Workplace Stress Scale, which were validated by cognitive and behavioral psychologists at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The instruments contained internal construct and content validity as determined by Cronbach alpha. ANCOVA was employed to test for hypotheses and answer research questions. This study demonstrates that cognitive and behavioral approaches are significantly effective in managing occupational stress among adult education workers who work for public agencies. To improve stress management capacity among adults in public administration positions, researchers recommend frequent exposure to cognitive and behavioral approaches.

Gender-specific occupational stress management in construction professionals: a comparative analysis of contractor quantity surveyors work at site

Purpose The construction industry is one of the most stressful industries. Thus, quantity surveyors (QSs) who work at sites frequently experience high levels of occupational stress. The gender of a QS also has a significant impact on his/her occupational stress. Hence, this study aims to investigate the management of occupational stress in QSs working at sites for contractors (hereinafter referred to as CQSs). Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed approach using semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey for female and male CQSs to identify, validate and rank the stressors and symptoms of occupational stress in CQSs and the strategies of managing that stress based on their significance levels. Manual content analysis and the mean weighted rating were used to analyse the data collected. Findings Heavy workload was the most significant occupational stressor of CQSs, whereas sleeping disorders were their primary symptom of occupational stress. Establishing a proper work programme was identified as the most effective stress management strategy for male and female CQSs. This study shows that many site QSs are stressed owing to their heavy workloads and work obligations and that their stress-related attributes significantly depend on their genders. Originality/value This study is significant because no previous studies have been conducted on managing occupational stress in CQSs in male and female CQSs. The study findings can be used to identify the stressors and symptoms of occupational stress in CQSs early and use appropriate management strategies to enhance the work satisfaction and productivity of CQSs suffering from occupational stress.

Psychosocial risk and work decisions of transport workers: A study

Purpose: The main objective of the research was to identify the structure and level of psychosocial risk experienced by transport workers and the relation between occupational stress and the decision to leave the job. Methodology: The research on psychosocial risks at work and their impact on job-related decisions was conducted with the Psychosocial Risk Scale (SRP), a scientifically verified diagnostic tool characterized by high reliability and accuracy of coefficients. The scale consists of four parts, A, B, C, and D. Part A concerns demographic data (such as age, gender, seniority, position, etc.). Part B contains questions related to health and professional functioning. Part C consists of 50 statements related to characteristics of work that pose potential psychosocial risks. Annex D-SRP for the transport sector contains 12 questions (α-Cronbach factor = 0.80). Psychometric properties of parts B and C of the Psychosocial Risk Scale were determined on the basis of the survey results. Results: The psychosocial risk categories considered were workload, job content, work schedule, control, environment and equipment, organizational culture and function, interpersonal relationships, career development, and work-life interface. The mediating effect of job satisfaction was also considered to provide a holistic perception of the analyzed problem. Job satisfaction was analyzed in job content, work conditions and organization, financial conditions, career development, and interpersonal relations with superiors and co-workers. Based on research results, authors identified and characterized the impact of psychosocial risk on transport workers' job-related decisions. Theoretical contribution: The research links social sciences, psychology, and management studies exploring the links between occupational stress and HR management implications, filling in a research gap between occupational stress and logistics management and creating new gaps and research questions as conclusions from research open following research fields and opportunities in the context of research on sustainable development of enterprises. It adds a new perspective to transport management, proving that risk resulting from job characteristics and organization can compromise the availability of workers and the quality of processes performed. Practical implications: The research results can be used by HR managers and workload planners to minimize the occupational stress experienced and improve the well-being and performance of transport workers.

Assessing Occupational Stress in Seafaring: A Fuzzy Delphi Approach to Develop Effective Management Strategies in Offshore Support Vessel Operations

The maritime industry has long been a crucial component of Malaysia's economy. Seafarers in this industry face unique psychosocial, work-related, and environmental stressors, which can negatively impact their health, safety, and well-being. The operations of offshore support vessels (OSVs) are particularly hazardous and require effective strategies for occupational stress management. The Fuzzy Delphi method was used to identify the key enablers of occupational stress in OSV operations. The study has found that the main enablers of occupational stress in seafaring include vulnerability towards occupational hazards and risks, human capital skills, onboard living conditions, governance capacity, and mental burnout. These findings can help guide efforts to address the occupational stressors faced by seafarers serving on OSVs and enhance their working conditions, skills, and health. Shipping companies, policymakers, and organisations must collaborate to ensure the compliance with marine regulations and standards, improve shift schedules, and implement proper mechanisms to maintain the occupational health of seafarers during and post the Covid-19 pandemic.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND OCCUPATIONAL STRESS: A STUDY OF PRIVATE BANKS IN TILOTTAMA MUNICIPALITY

Emotional intelligence is the ability of individual to analyze own emotion,behaviour and feelings and then use those emotion and feelings to guide one’sthinking and action. Understanding other’s emotions,behaviours and feelings is the key factor in achieving the required goal. This study aims to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and occupational stress in private banks located in Tilottama municipality. The study uses a quantitative research method and develops different scales to create questionnaires for employees of private banks. The questionnaires measure four variables: occupational stress, self-regulation, relationship management, and self-motivation. The study finds a significant negative correlation between EI and occupational stress, indicating that higher levels of EI are associated with lower levels of stress. The study also finds that employees with higher levels of EI are better able to regulate their emotions and manage their relationships with others, leading to better job performance and satisfaction. The study suggests that companies can benefit from promoting EI training and development programs to help employees manage their emotions and reduce job stress. Keywords: occupational stress, emotional intelligence, self regulation, self motivation and relationship management

Working environment of health care professionals - focus on occupational stress.

Healthcare professionals most often encounter occupational stress. The aim of the study was to investigate the working environment of health care professionals with the focus on expression of occupational stress, and oversee the possibilities of stress management and prevention. 326 representatives from five different healthcare institutions were surveyed in Siauliai city, Lithuania. The validated questionnaires HSE Management Standards Indicator Tool and the SF-36 questionnaire were used. The study revealed that the most important organizational factors were lack of communication, inappropriate relations with authorities and colleagues, big workload and long working hours, quick decision-making, and manifestations of mobbing. Financial support was reported as one of the main motivators in stress management. The most frequent individual factors were emotional relations with patients and their relatives. The healthcare professionals who experienced stress at work more often felt aches that disturbed their work routine, and their health interfered more their ordinary social activities. The main stress prevention measures are involvement of employees in decision-making, annual interviews with authorities, education, assurance of a safe work environment, and elimination of manifestations of mobbing. More attention must be paid to occupational stress management. It appeared that there is a lack of knowledge by institutions about the models of occupational stress management and internal stress management policy of organization. Therefore, this stimulates the search for measures that could help to change the situation.

Occupational stress of primary level health workers in COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

The study aimed to explore the level of stress of the primary-level health workers who are staying close-to-the community at Upazila-level in Bangladesh. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with applications of both – qualitative and quantitative methods. Two upazilas were purposively selected and then stratified sampling technique was used to determine the sample size. A total of 172 health workers were selected covering a total of 11 occupational categories (doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, medical assistants (SACMOs), medical technologists, health assistants, assistant health inspectors, family welfare assistants, family welfare visitor (FWV), and CHCPs. Regarding serving the COVID-19 probable cases, 57% said yes and regarding treatment to COVID-19 infected cases, 30% said yes. Regarding time spent on washing hand, about 52% said that they spent less than 30 seconds. During serving the patients, about 22% reported that they do not use PPE and 50% said that there is no arrangement of wearing PPE in their workplaces and 38% said that they do not follow standard procedures to wear. Regarding receiving COVID-19 related training, about 70% said ‘No’ and 73% said that they did not receive training on wearing PPE. Midwives and CHCPs were found to experience the highest level of stress at their workplaces. The most common stressors mentioned by the health workers were such as – dealing with difficult situation, sensitive to criticism, hunch for accuracy at work and inadequate resources. This study indicates that there is high prevalence (%) of stress among the primary level health workers in Bangladesh. Finally, the study recommends adopting an appropriate occupational stress management strategy at national level specific to the health workers working at the primary level as their nature of work is different to the secondary and tertiary level of care. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.14(2) July 2023: 72-83

The Relationship Between Occupational ‎Factors and Stress and its ‎Effect on Occupational ‎ Performance during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Saveh ‎University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Occupational stress can cause psychological pressure and subsequently affects the work performance of healthcare workers, especially when unexpected events like contagious disease pandemics occur. Because of the stressful nature of unpredictable life events, it increases the hospital admission rate, which results in heavy workload for employers and this add up to their stress. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between occupational factors and also work stress on occupational performance during covid-19 pandemic using the employees of the Saveh Medical Sciences Health Department in covid-19 epidemic.
 Methods: The present research is a cross-sectional study that 316 employees from the health department of Saveh Faculty of Medical Sciences were given their opinion in 1401. In order to investigate occupational stress management and employee performance, the standard occupational stress assessment questionnaires and Patterson's performance assessment questionnaires were used, respectively. Data analysis was done using SPSS26 software and through frequency report, mean and standard deviation, linear regression test and Stepwise multiple regression model done.
 Results: the average and standard deviation of the total occupational stress management score of the participants was 3.09 ± 0.46, which was in the average range. The variables of the frequency of workplace change and the amount of stress determine 10% of the changes in job performance. ‏‏(‏PES=0/1‏) Examination of the interaction effect of the frequency of workplace change and the amount of stress on job performance did not show a significant relationship. (P-value ‎=0.4) The main effect of the frequency of workplace change (P-value=0.007 ‎ ‏) and the main effect of stress (P-value ‎=0.001) on job performance showed a significant relationship.
 Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there was a significant relationship between types of employment and job performance. To be precise, the lowest mean and standard deviation in job performance observed in the contractual employees who had high levels of stress. While, the highest mean and standard deviation regarding job performance were related to the Permanent employeeswho had low levels of stress (P-value ‎ <0.001). Since increasing job security among contractual employees and corporate contracts and also changing their status can improve their performance, in order to manage job stress, introducing more policies regarding employment is suggested.

Exploration of user needs and design requirements of a digital stress management intervention for software employees in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study

BackgroundDigital stress management interventions are considered promising additions to the spectrum of the programs companies use to support the well-being of their employees. However, a series of constraints are identified that hinder the potential benefits of such interventions. These constraints include a lack of user engagement and personalisation, poor adherence and high attrition. Understanding the specific user needs and requirements is essential to increase the likelihood of success in implementing ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-supported stress management interventions. Thus, following the findings from a previous quantitative study, the proposed study aimed to further explore the user needs and requirements for designing digital stress management interventions for software employees in Sri Lanka.MethodsThe study used a qualitative approach based on three focus groups with 22 software employees in Sri Lanka. The focus group discussions were conducted online and recorded digitally. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ)-32 items were followed for reporting this study.ResultsThe analysis revealed three major themes: self-help in a personal space, social support in a collaborative space, and general design considerations for achieving success. The first theme revealed the users’ preference for having a personal space where they could engage in individual activities without support from an external party. The second theme elaborated on the importance of adding a collaborative platform to seek help from peers and professionals. The final theme explored the user-desired design features that could increase user engagement and adherence.ConclusionsThis study used a qualitative approach to further explore the findings of a previous quantitative study. The focus group discussions confirmed the results of the previous study and provided the opportunity to better understand user needs and yield new insights. Such insights revealed user preference for embedding personal and collaborative platforms in a single intervention, embedding gamified elements, the provision of passive content generation via sensory systems, and the need for personalisation. These empirical findings will feed into the design of ICT-supported interventions for occupational stress management among Sri Lankan software employees.

Coaching impact on work-family conflict and occupational stress among educational administrators in primary schools.

Many workers in developing countries have complained about poor working conditions, unhappiness, and job insecurity. As a result, irrationality in employees judgments of the dissatisfactory status of Nigerian organizational environments has been linked to deviant public employee behavior. Apparently, workers in this work environment experience job-induced hazards and distorted feelings about their occupational well-being. With that in mind, we evaluated the impact of rational-emotive occupational health coaching on work-life quality and occupational stress management among educational administrators in Nigeria. This research employed a group-randomized trial design. A total number of 70 administrators were recruited, measured with 2 measurement tools during the study. Frequency, percentage, and Chi-square statistics were employed to describe the recruited sample, and inferential (mixed model ANOVA) statistics were utilized to examine the information gathered from the participants. The result showed a significant effect of the rational-emotive occupational health coaching (REOHC) group in decreasing the perception of stress and work-family conflict management among educational administrators. Also, the study reported a significant effect of time on administrators' occupational stress and work-family conflict management. The results also indicate that administrators' occupational stress and work-family conflict coping skills had a significant influence due to group and time interaction effects. REOHC is a powerful and useful coaching strategy that improves perceptions of administrators about work-life and job stress in work environment. Based on these results, we recommend REOHC for practitioners in different works of life.

A Pilot Study to Assess the Effect of Coaching on Emergency Nurses' Stress Management.

(1) Background: Emergency nurses are more exposed to a wider range of stressors, resulting in higher levels of burnout, reducing the quality of nursing care, and decreasing job satisfaction compared with other peers in other nursing departments. The objective of the current pilot research is to evaluate the efficiency of a transtheoretical coaching model on emergency nurses' occupational stress management through a coaching intervention. (2) Materials and Methods: An interview, Karasek's stress questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), an observation grid, and a one-group Pre-test-Post-test questionnaire was carried out to evaluate the changes in emergency nurses' knowledge and their ability to manage stress before and after attending the coaching intervention. A total of seven emergency room nurses at the proximity public hospital of the Settat area in Morocco have taken part in this study. (3) Results: The results have shown that all emergency nurses were subject to the job strain and iso-strain; four nurses were in moderate burnout, only one nurse was found in high burnout, and two were in low burnout. There was a significant difference between mean Pre- and Post-test scores (p = 0.016). Nurses' mean score has improved by 2.86 points after attending the four sessions coaching experience, passing from 3.71 in the Pre-test to 6.57 in the Post-test. (4) Conclusions: The coaching intervention through a transtheoretical coaching model could potentially be an efficient strategy for enhancing the nurses' knowledge and skills in stress management.

Effectiveness of a Short-duration Interview on Occupational Stress Management for Staff at a Social Welfare Service Corporation in a Rural Depopulated Community

Effectiveness of a Short-duration Interview on Occupational Stress Management for Staff at a Social Welfare Service Corporation in a Rural Depopulated Community

A study on the correlation between work stressors and the coping styles of outpatients and emergency nurses in 29 pediatric specialty hospitals across China.

This study aimed to better understand the current situation involving work stressors and the coping styles of outpatient and emergency nurses in 29 pediatric specialty hospitals across China. The study analyzed this correlation to provide a reference for the occupational stress management of pediatric nurses. From June to September 2020, 1,457 outpatient and emergency nurses in 29 pediatric specialty hospitals across China were selected as study participants, and a questionnaire survey was conducted using the Basic Information Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Work Stressor Scale for Nurses, and the Simple Coping Style Scale. The assessed stress level of outpatient and emergency nurses in 29 tertiary pediatric specialty hospitals nationwide is lower than the results of the survey of the 2007 domestic norm, p < 0.05. The stressors related to nurses' expectations, family conflicts, the nature of nursing work, patient factors, and workload were lower compared with the national norm (p < 0.05). The positive coping style score on the Simple Coping Style Scale for pediatric outpatient nurses was (36.66 ± 6.16), and work stressors were positively associated with negative coping styles (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of work stressors among pediatric outpatient and emergency nurses correlated with the authorized size, age, working years of nurses, work department, and negative coping styles. Negative coping styles were present among pediatric outpatient and emergency nurses and were associated with work stressors. The influencing factors of stressors mainly correlated with the clinical establishment, age, years of employment as a nurse, work department, and negative coping styles.

Testing spillover-crossover effects of work-family conflict and family-work conflict on Indonesian spouses

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the spillover–crossover effects on the work–family interface, with an emphasis on work–family conflict (WFC) and family–work conflict (FWC) on marital satisfaction and personal burnout.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from matched dyads by 300 teachers and their spouses (N = 600) in Indonesia. Multiple regression analysis served to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results showed significant spillover–crossover effects of WFC on personal burnout amongst working wives to their spouses, but not working husbands to their spouses. Moreover, there was a spillover effect of FWC on personal burnout amongst working wives, and a crossover effect of FWC on spouses' personal burnout amongst working husbands to their spouses. However, there was no spillover–crossover effect of WFC and FWC on marital satisfaction for both working wives and husbands.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for occupational stress management. Decision-makers have to create a positive atmosphere that reduces WFC in the workplace by providing support to the workers.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by exploring the crossover effects of WFC and FWC amongst marital spouses in a country with inherent conservatism and traditional gender role perspectives.

Does Occupational Stress Play a Role in Forming Restrictionist Immigration Opinions?

ABSTRACT This study extends the labor market competition perspective of immigration attitudes by examining the influence of occupational stress and employer-sponsored stress management programs on native-born, full-time workers’ opinions toward immigration levels. Binary logit and ordered logit models, with data from the 2018 General Social Survey, test the predictions of three occupational stress theories: job demands-control-support, effort-reward balance, and distributive justice. The results indicate that native-born, non-Hispanic white workers and native-born, Latino workers who are unable to develop their occupational skills on the job have greater odds of favoring reduced immigration. Job insecurity, lack of promotion opportunities, and poor intercolleague respect also negatively affect native-born, non-Hispanic white workers’ immigration opinions, while having to expend greater physical effort and having less time to complete the work negatively affect native-born, Latino workers’ immigration opinions. At the same time, native-born, non-Hispanic white workers who participate in stress management training have significantly greater odds of supporting increased immigration levels and significantly lower odds of desiring lower immigration levels. As immigration to the United States remains strong, understanding the social processes of native-born employee perceptions and the solutions to problematic intergroup relations may benefit individuals, businesses, and the economy.

Assessment of job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, and occupational burnout symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among radiologic technologists in Saudi Arabia

IntroductionRadiologic technologists (RTs) are among the healthcare staff negatively impacted by job dissatisfaction, occupational stress, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, occupational burnout symptoms, and associated factors among RTs in Saudi Arabia. MethodsA survey study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered socio-demographic information, answers to the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, lifestyle behaviors, and frequency of occupational burnout symptoms. Data were analyzed to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. ResultsA total of 261 RTs completed the survey. Participants were predominantly male and most were working in public hospitals. The overall mean score for job satisfaction was 3.77 (of 5), indicating moderate job satisfaction, with two items showing low satisfaction— compensation (3.33) and advancement (3.28). The overall mean score for lifestyle behaviors was 2.00 (of 3), indicating moderate lifestyle behaviors, with the lowest scores reported in sleep quality (1.92), healthy diet (1.85), and relaxing and unwinding (1.86). For burnout symptoms, the overall mean score was 2.30, indicating moderate burnout level, with the highest score reported in experiencing physical symptoms (2.72). There were significant relationships between job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors and burnout symptoms. A positive and moderate relationship, r = 0.53 (p < 0.05), was found between job satisfaction and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The burnout relationships with job satisfaction, r = −0.615 (p < 0.05), and healthy lifestyle behaviors, r = −0.524 (p < 0.05), were negative and moderate relationships ConclusionThe interrelationships between job satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, and occupational burnout symptoms suggest that improving lifestyle behaviors and managing burnout symptoms could contribute to higher job satisfaction. Implications for practicePolicymakers should focus their efforts in the workplace health promotion programs to play essential roles in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and occupational stress management, as well as, improvements of RTs career advancement and compensation.

Efficacy of Rational Emotive Career Counselling Programme on Occupational Stress Management in Industrial Hazard Victims: Safety Practice Implications

Efficacy of Rational Emotive Career Counselling Programme on Occupational Stress Management in Industrial Hazard Victims: Safety Practice Implications