Assess the Level of Occupational Stress and to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Occupational Stress and Its Management among Security Guards of a Selected Organization, Shimoga, Karnataka ()
1. Introduction
Stress is a physical or emotional state of reaction, always present in all the persons as a result of living on the earth. It is a result of a non specific reaction to internal or external environmental changes or dangerousness. Stress is the black plague of the eighties major problems of everyday routine life, harming individual persons, working place and societal health [1].
Stress has become a common factor in most of all the profession, starting from an artist to a surgeon, or a commercial pilot to a sales executive. Job stress gives rise to an adverse effect on health and performance [2].
Job stress is recognised worldwide as a major challenge to employee’s health and the healthiness of their working organisations. WHO is predicting that by 2020, stress will be a major cause of workplace ill-health [3]. It is now generally accepted that chronic or acute stress can have a negative impact on an individual’s mental and physical health. According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), around half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress at a level that they believe is making them ill, up to five million people feel very or extremely stressed by their work and work related stress costs society about £3.7 billion each year [3].
A survey was conducted by The Regus Business Tracker, a global economic indicator which included over 3 lakh employees from 13 countries and assessed their level of occupational stress. The stress measured from 12,000 employees from India was about 57% [4].
Occupational stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the demands of the workplace and an individual’s ability to carry out and complete the organizational demand. Often a stressor can lead the body to have a physiological disturbance which in turn will result in a strain on a person physically as well as mentally [5].
Occupational stress is often caused because of many reasons among those, it may be because of an increased workload, [6] delegating additional work for the current work, allotting less time span for the completion of the allotted task, expansion working time, paying fewer wages for the work, lack of motivation in an organization [7]. The workplace factors can cause stress like psychosocial factors, in terms of “interactions between and among work environment, job content, organizational conditions and workers’ capacities, needs, culture, personal extra-job considerations that may, through perceptions and experience, influence health, work performance and job satisfaction”. A negative interaction between occupational conditions and human factors may lead to emotional disturbances, behavioural problems, biochemical and neuro-hormonal changes, presenting added risks of mental or physical illness. On the contrary, when working conditions and human factors are in balance, work creates a feeling of mastery and self-confidence; increases motivation, working capacity and satisfaction; and improves health [8].
Being employed as a security guard continuous exposure to potential threat is stressful. In addition, the nature of their work puts physical strain on their bodies that contributes to the manifestation of stress. Security guards are frequently faced with having to—police people, which can lead to conflictual encounters that promote stress. Security guards are engaged in a profession that confronts violators of the law as well as violence and are thus are more likely to be exposed to traumatic experiences [9].
Stress management training, workshops reduce the prevalence of employees with a poor understanding of the principles of the management of stress, and with poor Coping strategies [10].
Study suggest that the intervention is effective in easing occupational stress for high-stress workers [11].
Therefore, its important that giving planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding occupational stress and its management for security guards.
2. Methods
2.1. Participants
Convenience sample (Target population) consisted of 80 security guards, who work in Hi-Tech Security Services, Shimoga, an organization which recruits security. Inclusion criteria set for sample selection were as follows: Security guards who are willing to participate in the study, who can understand English or Kannada, and Exclusion criteria set is, who are previously sensitized to any research studies since 3 months regarding occupational stress and its management, who are physically not fit.
2.2. Instruments
The investigator constructed the tool to collect the background data of the study subjects to identify the association between pre test level of knowledge score and demographic characteristics. It consisted of 11 items, which comprised of age of the participant, sex of the participant, religion, area of living, monthly income, educational qualification, marital status, years of experience, number of working hours per day, number of night shifts per week, and history of any illnesses.
Job stress scale
Job stress scale was used to assess the occupational stress of the security guards. The job stress scale consisted of 25 items and measured on a 4 point scale. The occupational stress of security guards will be graded into mild, moderate and severe depending on the total score.
The minimum total score will be 0 and maximum will be 75.
Grading of scores
The Cronbach’s alpha was caluaulated for these questionnaires with 0.91 which is strongly reliable.
2.3. Procedure
This study was approved by the administration of Hi Tech security services. The security guards were informed of the purpose the study, and that they had the right to refuse to participate. Also, the voluntary nature of participation was informed as well as confidentiality, finally, all participants signed for informed consent
2.4. Data Analysis
The quantitative data were entered and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences, version 23, Demographic variables were analyzed using frequency and percentage, Level of occupational stress were analyzed using frequency and percentage, Pre-test and post-test level of knowledge were analyzed using mean and Standard Deviation, Effectiveness of planned teaching programme were assessed using paired t test, Association between level of occupational stress and demographic variables were computed using Chi square test.
3. Results
The majority of samples that is 33 (41.3%) are in the age group of 30 - 39 years, 8 (10%) are in the age group of ≥50 years, 30 (37.5%) are in the age group of 40 - 49 years, and 9 (11.2%) are in the age group of 20 - 29. Based on Gender classification, majority of the samples that is, 54 (67.5%) were men and 26 (32.5%) were women in the study. Most of the samples 33 (41.2%) belonged to the Christian community, 17 (21.3%) were from the Muslim community and 30 (37.5%) belonged to the Hindu community.
Majority of the samples 45 (56.25%) are living in urban area and 35 (43.75%) are living in rural area. Most of the respondents, 40 (50%) are having a monthly income of rupees 3001 - 6000, 19 (23.75%) are having a monthly income rupees 6001 - 10,000 and 21 (26.25%) are having a monthly income of rupees ≤ 3000. 33 (41.3%) have primary education, 7 (8.75%) have pre university/diploma education, 30 (36.58%) have high school education where as 10 (12.5%) doesn’t have any formal education. Majority of the respondents, 47 (58.75%) are married and 33 (41.25%) are single. Majority of the participants, 29 (36.25%) have an experience of 3.1 - 6 years, 8 (10%) have an experience of >9 years, 23 (26.75%) have an experience of 0 - 3 years and 20 (25%) have 6.1 - 9 years of experience.
Most of the participants, 39 (48.75%) have 8 working hours per day, 16 (20%) have 12 working hours per day and 25 (31.25%) have 10 working hours per day. Most of the participants, 40 (50%) have 2 night shifts per week, 11 (13.75%) have 4 weekly night shifts and 29 (36.25%) have 3 weekly night shifts. Most of the respondents, 55 (68.75%) doesn’t have any previous history of illness and 25 (31.25%) have diseases like Hypertension and Diabetes Table 1.
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Table 1. Frequency and percentage distribution of subjects on selected demographic variables.
Level of occupational stress showed that 59 security guards (73.75%) are under moderate level of occupational stress, 21 (26.25%) are under severe level of occupational stress and none of them are having mild level of occupational stress Table 2.
Knowledge regarding occupational stress and its management before the administration of Planned reaching programme shows that the majority of the sample 66 (82.5%) had inadequate knowledge and 14 (17.5%) of them had moderately adequate knowledge and none of them had adequate knowledge. Table 3
Area wise mean, standard deviation and mean percentage scores among the samples in the pre-test show that in area of general aspects and causes of occupational stress, the pre-test mean percentage was 30 with a mean and standard deviation of 1.5 ± 0.62. In area of prevention and management of occupational stress, mean percentage was 25.6 with a mean and standard deviation of 6.39 ± 1.9. In the effects of occupational stress mean percentage was 29 with a mean and standard deviation of 2.18 ± 0.65 (Table 4).
Post-test results revealed that majority of the samples 67 (83.7%) had adequate knowledge and 13 (16.3%) of them had moderately adequate knowledge regarding occupational stress and its management (Table 5).
Mean, SD and “t” value showing the difference between mean pre-test and post-test level of knowledge, showed that mean post-test score (22.86) is higher than the pre-test knowledge score (10.06). The calculated pared t test value (t = 41.8) is greater than the table value (t 79 = 1.664) at 0.05 level of significance shows that there is significant difference between the pre-test and post-test knowledge score. So planned teaching programme was found to be effective in improving level of knowledge regarding occupational stress and its management among security guards of a selected organization (Table 6).
Association between level of occupational stress and demographic variables
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Table 2. Frequency and percentage distribution of samples according to their level of occupational stress (N = 80).
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Table 3. Frequency and percentage distribution of samples according to their level of knowledge before the administration of PTP (N = 80).
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Table 4. Area wise mean, standard deviation and mean percentage scores among the samples in the pre-test.
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Table 5. Frequency and mean percentage distribution of samples according to their pre-test and post-test level of knowledge (N = 80).
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Table 6. Mean, SD and “t” value showing the difference between mean pre-test and post-test level of knowledge (N = 80).
t79 = 1.66, p < 0.05, *Significant.
reveals that there is a significant association between number of night shifts and occupational stress (χ2 = 12.32, p < 0.05), and no association between the other selected demographic variables and the level of occupational stress (Table 7).
Association between the pre test level of knowledge and selected demographic variables reveals that there is no association between the pre-test level of knowledge score and demographic variables of the security guards, Hence, there is no significant association between the level of pre test knowledge score and selected demographic variables at 0.05 level of significance (Table 8).
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Table 7. Association between levels of occupational stress and demographic variables (N = 80).
NS = Not significant, χ2 (3) =5.991, p < 0.05, *Significant.
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Table 8. Association between the levels of Knowledge and selected demographic variables (N = 80).
NS = Not significant.
4. Discussion
Section I: Description of demographic data
The majority of samples that is 33 (41.3%) are in the age group of 30 - 39 years, 8 (10%) are in the age group of ≥50 years, 30 (37.5%) are in the age group of 40 - 49 years, and 9 (11.2%) are in the age group of 20 - 29. Based on Gender classification, majority of the samples that is, 54 (67.5%) were men and 26 (32.5%) were women in the study. Most of the samples 33 (41.2%) belonged to the Christian community, 17 (21.3%) were from the Muslim community and 30 (37.5%) belonged to the Hindu community.
Majority of the samples 45 (56.25%) are living in urban area and 35 (43.75%) are living in rural area. Most of the respondents, 40 (50%) are having a monthly income of rupees 3001 - 6000, 19 (23.75%) are having a monthly income rupees 6001 - 10,000 and 21 (26.25%) are having a monthly income of rupees ≤ 3000. 33 (41.3%) have primary education, 7 (8.75%) have pre university/diploma education, 30 (36.58%) have high school education where as 10 (12.5%) doesn’t have any formal education. Majority of the respondents, 47 (58.75%) are married and 33 (41.25%) are single. Majority of the participants, 29 (36.25%) have an experience of 3.1 - 6 years, 8 (10%) have an experience of >9 years, 23 (26.75%) have an experience of 0 - 3 years and 20 (25%) have 6.1 - 9 years of experience.
Most of the participants, 39 (48.75%) have 8 working hours per day, 16 (20%) have 12 working hours per day and 25 (31.25%) have 10 working hours per day. Most of the participants, 40 (50%) have 2 night shifts per week, 11 (13.75%) have 4 weekly night shifts and 29 (36.25%) have 3 weekly night shifts. Most of the respondents, 55 (68.75%) doesn’t have any previous history of illness and 25 (31.25%) have diseases like Hypertension and Diabetes.
Section II: Assessment of level of occupational stress
In the present study occupational stress score showed that the majority of the security guards that is 59 (73.7%) were under moderate level of occupational stress and 21 (26.3%) were under severe level of occupational stress. None of them experienced mild level of occupational stress.
The findings of the present study were consistent with a descriptive study done in Shanghai, China among 527 nurses from 41 hospitals to assess the occupational burnout and its association with occupational stress. Results showed that most of the nurses, that is 74.76% were affected with moderate level of occupational stress and are very prone to have occupational burnout, 27.13% were having severe level of occupational stress which was strongly associated with work-related stress. Interventions in reducing occupational stress are needed to reduce the burden of burnout in Chinese nurses [12].
Section III: Pre test level of knowledge
In the present study the pre-interventional score showed that the majority of the samples 66 (82.5%) had inadequate knowledge regarding occupational stress and its management before the administration of PTP, 14 (17.5%) of them had moderately adequate knowledge and none of them had adequate knowledge.
The findings of the present study were consistent with a descriptive survey conducted in Poland, among 210 employees to assess their knowledge regarding sources and consequences of work stress. Stressors intrinsic to the job (mostly work overload) were recognized as best known to employees (67.62%). The second place was occupied by stressors originating from interpersonal relationships at work (51.9% of respondents pointed out that problem). Almost no one (0.48%) mentioned home-work interference as a source of occupational stress. According to the respondents’ opinion, occupational stress mostly results in health decline. The employees who participated in the study believe that the employer (13.81%) or the superior (19.05%) is responsible for psychosocial risks prevention at the work place. Almost a half of subjects (46.67%) did not know whether there are any law regulations on psychosocial risk at work in Poland. The study concluded that the respondents showed an average level of knowledge of psychosocial risk at the work place and knew almost nothing about occupational stress prevention. The results of the study point to the need for systematic education of employees about stress and stress related issues [13].
Section IV: Evaluation of effectiveness of PTP
The findings of the present study showed that overall post-test mean percentage is 63.53% with a mean of 22.86 ± 2.65 which is higher compared to mean percentage (26.83%) and mean and standard deviation (10.06 ± 2.36) of the pre test. The data also shows that the maximum gain that is 37.5% occurred in the area of general aspects and causes of occupational stress and minimum gain, that is 35% occurred in effects of occupational stress. The mean post-test score (22.86) is higher than the pre-test knowledge score (10.06). The calculated t’ value (t 79 = 37.11) is greater than the table value (t 79 = 1.664) at 0.05 level of significance shows that there is significant difference between the pre-test and post-test knowledge score.
The findings of the present study were consistent with a randomized control trial done among 46 supervisors to find out the effectiveness of education programme on stress reduction in Japan. Experimental group consisted of 24 and control group consisted of 22 supervisors respectively. A single-session education program that included the guidelines for worker mental health promotion was given to the intervention group. The education program was composed of a basic education lecture and active listening training. The education favorably affected supervisor knowledge (F = 7.92; p = 0.001). As for behavior, the intervention effect was marginally statistically significant (F = 2.51; p = 0.088). In conclusion, the provision of necessary information and useful skills to supervisors seems to improve supervisor knowledge and behavior regarding stress management at the workplace for at least six months [14].
Section V: Association between the level of occupational stress and selected demographic variables
The study findings revealed that there is a significant association between number of night shifts and level of occupational stress (χ2 = 12.32) at 0.05 level of significance. Other demographic variables didn’t show any association with the level of occupational stress at 0.05 level of significance.
The findings of the present study were consistent with a cross sectional study conducted in China among 2613 nurses from 20 hospitals to assess the job stress perceived by them. The study findings showed that Mean Personal Strain Questionnaire score was 86.9. There was a significant association between the stress score with role insufficiency, responsibility and night shifts. The study concluded that Occupational health education and occupational training programmes may be necessary to improve the knowledge and ability of nurses to cope with job demands and reduce occupational stress [15].
Section VI: Association between the level of knowledge and selected demographic variables
The study findings revealed that there is no significant association between pre interventional knowledge score and selected demographic variables.
5. Conclusions
The results were explained by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The following conclusions were drawn on the basis of the findings of the study:
1) The occupational stress assessment findings revealed that the majority of the participants, 59 (73.7%) were under a moderate level of occupational stress and 21 (26.3%) were under a severe level of occupational stress.
2) The pre test findings revealed that the majority of the subjects, 66 (82.5%) had an inadequate level of knowledge regarding occupational stress and its management and remaining, 14 (17.5%) had a moderately adequate level of knowledge and none of them had an adequate level of knowledge. The post test results had shown that 67 subjects (83.7%) gained adequate knowledge and remaining 13 (16.3%) had moderately adequate knowledge.
3) Following the administration of planned teaching programme, there was a significant gain in mean post test knowledge score (22.86) compared to that of mean pre-test knowledge scores (10.06). This indicates that teaching programme was effective in increasing the knowledge of security guards regarding occupational stress and its management.
4) It was found that there was a significant association between the number of night shifts and level of occupational stress and no association was found between other demographic variables and level of occupational stress.
5) It was also found that there was no significant association between the demographic variables and pre-test knowledge scores.