Working Women and Stress

act asing Women and siftGender-specific movement reach factors, such as sex discrimination and balancing hold discover and family demands, whitethorn adjudge an pay dispatch on women rangeers above and beyond the impact of general handicraft songors such as ph champion line all all overload and skill under-utilization.Discriminatory barriers to financial and go advancement stand been linked to more(prenominal) frequent physical and mental symptoms and more frequent visits to the doctor.The intimately effective way of trim graze melody is through and through organisational change in the consummation atplace. This holds true for reducing make for extend in female and male black marketers alike. Workplaces that actively caution sexual discrimination and harassment, and promote family-friendly policies, appear to foster worker verity and attachment regardless(prenominal) of gender, studies indicate. Organizational changes effective for reducing descent s triving among women workers intromit expanding promotion and carg mavenr ladders, introducing family-support programs and policies, and enforcing policies against sex discrimination and sexual harassment.2.28 The clause Women in Construction occupational Health and Working Conditions, finds thatWomen whitethorn book less on-the- business enterprise safety mentoring than men from supervisors and co-workers. This support create a potentially dangerous cycle in which tradeswomen atomic number 18 asked to do rent outs for which they argon not properly trained, then be injured when they do them or ar seen as incompetent when they are unable to do them.Women in construction have reported harassment and verbal abuse by co-workers and isolation on the play severe enough that round women have looked for other employment.Patterns of work- relate construction fatalities differ for men and women. For example, women construction laborers are at high teacher risk than male laborers of death from motor vehicle injuries, plainly less in all probability to be at risk of death from falls, machinery related injuries, or beingness struck by objects. Further inquiry is requisite to determine why these differences exist.(http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/ familypage.html) (14)2.29 In one theatre of operations relating to MSDs, NIOSH worked with the Internal taxation Service (IRS) to examine disturbances for reducing discomfort among IRS information entry workers, the majority of whom are female. NIOSH free-base that periodic rest breaks throughout the work cutting turn outd musculoskeletal discomfort, speckle allowing workers to maintain stage business functioning. (15)2.30 According to NIOSH , judge at work is another issue of have-to doe with., test at work is a growing chore for all workers, including women. In one panorama, 60 portion of employed women cited filtrate as their number one problem at work. Furthermore, directs of melodic phrase-related i llness are nearly twice as high for women as for men.Many joke conditions contri ande to accent among women, according to NIOSH. Such demarcation conditions include heavy workload demands lesser control over work lineament ambiguity and conflict job insecurity poor bloods with coworkers and supervisors and work that is narrow, repetitive, and monotonous. (16)-2.31 daybook of Occupational and Environmental Medicine(2005) showHealth care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of judge.2.32 Encyclopaedia of Occupational prophylactic and Health (2001) with title problem Stress and HealthWhat the seek Tells Us2.32.1Cardiovascular DiseaseMany studies elicit that psychologically demanding jobs that allow employees little control over the work process increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.2.32.2Musculoskeletal DisordersOn the basis of research by NIOSH and some(prenominal) other organizations, it is wide believed that job pains increases the risk for victimisation of back and upper- extremity musculoskeletal disorders.2.32.3Psychological DisordersSeveral studies suggest that differences in evaluate of mental wellness problems (such as depression and burnout) for various occupations are due partly to differences in job show levels. (Economic and lifestyle differences between occupations may besides contribute to some of these problems.)2.32.4Workplace InjuryAlthough more occupy is needed, in that location is a growing cin one casern that nerve-wracking work conditions interfere with safe work practices and set the leg for injuries at work.2.32.5Suicide, Cancer, Ulcers, and Impaired Immune FunctionSome studies suggest a relationship between examineful operative conditions and these health problems. However, more research is needed before firm conclusions thunder mug be drawn-2.33 NIOSH(2001) research has set organizational characteristics with title Stress, Health, and ProductivitySome employers assume that breedful works conditions are a necessity evil-that companies must turn up the pull on workers and set aside health concerns to remain productive and moneymaking in todays economy. provided research determinations challenge this belief. Studies show that stressful working conditions are actually associated with increased absenteeism, tardiness, and intentions by workers to quit their jobs-all of which have a electronegative effect on the bottom line.Recent studies of so-cal direct goodly organizations suggest that policies benefiting worker health also benefit the bottom line. A healthy organization is defined as one that has low rates of illness, injury, and disability in its workforce and is also competitive in the marketplace. NIOSH research has identify organizational characteristics associated with both(prenominal) healthy, low-stress work and high levels of productivity. Examples of these characteristics include the by-lineRecognition of employees for good work perf ormanceOpportunities for career developmentAn organizational culture that values the individual workerManagement actions that are un polariated with organizational values(19)2.34 St. Paul Fire and Marin(2007) Insurance Company conducted several studies on the effects of stress pr unconstipatedtion programs in hospital settings.(Journal of use Psychology) one with titleStress Prevention and Job featProgram activities include (1) employee and solicitude education on job stress, (2) changes in hospital policies and procedures to reduce organizational sources of stress, and (3) establishment of employee assistance programs.2.34.1 In one study, the frequency of medicinal drug errors declined by 50% after prevention activities were implemented in a 700-bed hospital. In a second study, there was a 70% lessening in malpractice claims in 22 hospitals that implemented stress prevention activities. In contrast, there was no reduction in claims in a matched assort of 22 hospitals that did not implement stress prevention activities.2.35 According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics(2004), workers who must take time off work be shake up of stress, anxiety, or a related disorder will be off the job for about 20 days.2.36 Northwestern National Life Insurance(1992), Minneapolis, 1992,as reported in Work in America, Vol. 17, No. 6, June 1992. Employee burnout Causes and cures, Part 1 Employee stress levels,GENDER WORK AND STRESSIn a abide by carried out in 1992 of nearly 1,300 full-time employees in a ergodic sample of private companies in the coupled States, it was build that gender, among other factors (the level of the employee in the organization, income, occupation and family situation), accounted for differences in job stress at the workplace.The survey raise that stress affects women more than men, and that they are squarely more likely to report burnout, stress-related illnesses or a desire to resign from their jobs. The researchers suggested several reasons for this. In the first place, women are often paid less than men for their work, even if they have college details. Many organizations also overlook policies which respond to family issues.Single women with children, on with low-paid college graduates, are at highest risk of burnout. Some 50 per cent of wholeness women with children reported burnout, compared to 31 per cent of married women with children.2.37 European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2001)reported these figures in look on work-related stress,The pastime are recent estimates which related to the cost of work-related stressIn the United Kingdom, it has been suggested that over 40 million working days are broken each socio-economic class due to stress-related disordersIn Australia, the Federal Assistant government minister for Industrial relations estimated the cost of occupational stress to be somewhat A$30 million in 1994In the United States, over half of the 550 million working days lost each year due to absenteeism are stress-related.2.38 Several recent studies by ILO(2004) have highlighted the links between work-related stress, violence at work, the abuse of drugs and alcohol and tobacco consumption. These studies incline to suggest that stress at work plays an important use in the development of negative individual and organizational factors and forms a common member linking working conditions, substance abuse and violent acts. There appears to be a significant correlation between difficulties in relaxing after work and negative emotions such as fear, helplessness and failure. stressful work may contribute to the development of a desire among workers to reduce tension by drinking, using drugs and other harmful substances.Alienating work has negative consequences for the development of a healthy human ad hominemity and can result in a range of problematic behaviours at the individual level, which may include the destructive use of alcohol and other substances, a s nearly as depression and a deterioration in normal affective life. Stressful conditions may also constitute an antecedent to an episode of workplace violence. (ILO) (http//www.ilo.org/ universal/English/safework/index.htm).$2.39 University of utara(2004), Malaysia, school of chronicle, Report on job stress among sea captain accountants working in selected public firms, a Malaysia case, replicates and extends earlier studies on job stress in public accounting conducted in UK and Britain. It is done through an extensive review of literature on job stress and expanse study using the same questionnaire utilized in the earlier ii studies with a little modification to suit Malaysian context.The study seeks answers to what may be the sources of stress. Psychological outcomes and moderators of the stressful situation in selected public accounting firms and whether there exist significant linear relationship between job stressors and mental human bodys. Further more, it attempts to f ind out whether various from sizes, functional areas and authority levels differ importantly in the stressors confronted and strains go through by public accountants.The finding indicates that stressors faced by most respondents are quantitative workload, variations in workload, responsibilities for persons and travel, genuinely few reports confronting role conflict and role ambiguity. As for the mental strains, respondent do not show that they are experiencing any except for job and workload dis blessednesss and pay inequity. It is also found that more than 10 part of the respondents feel that they have job autonomy and that they do not take in the type A personality traits. (24)2.40 A research report in Saudi Medical Journal , (2003) titled Job satisfaction and organizationalcommitment for nursesfound that nurses in publichospitals are slightly genial and committed to theirhospitals. Besides, satisfied nurses tend to have a higher(prenominal)(prenominal)degree of commitme nt than less satisfied ones.2.41 A report in diary of health(2003) with title stress and suicide in nurses revealed that the relation between stress and suicide remained U shaped.when the job stress and home stress are combined, quintuplet fold increase in risk of suicide among women occurs.risk of suicide among high stress women is more compare to low stress pay off by women.2.42 School of Health Science (2002), Blekinge Institute of Technology Karlskrona, Sweden empowerThe stress experience of breast feeding staff in intensive care therapy, concludes that stress contains amongst other the element of moral there is shortage of nurses in the health care and organisational structure too impede nursing performance to rid of the negative consequences of stress for nurses moral support is required. In ICU stress and complex situation are common for all nurses, the stress suggestion are sometime ethical issues, morbidity and burn out, the report revealed.2.43 Queensland University of Technology(2002), dissertation with the titleTHE INFLUENCE OF WORK STRESS AND WORK SUPPORT ON BURNOUTIN PUBLIC HOSPITAL NURSES states that Australian nurses reported low to defy levels of work stress, moderate levels of work support and moderately high levels of burnout.Work stressors, were the main predictors of Emotional Exhaustion, Conflic.Changes in the objective conditions at work have had major implications fornurses subjective experiences of work, with increasing numbers of nurses feelingstressed and as a consequence, are opting to work part-time or leave the craft.2.44 HSJ health SCIENCE JOURNAL (2005), REPORT CARRYING THE TITLE FACTORS INFLUENCING STRESS AND craft SATISFACTION OF NURSES WORKING IN PSYCHIATRIC UNITSA strong negative relationship was found between clinical leading, inter-professional collaboration, and stress and job satisfaction. Although a positive relationship between clinical leadership and nurses job satisfaction was found, the companionship be tween clinical leadership and quality of inter-professional collaboration is unclear. The association between these variables and job satisfaction is positive but tenuous. In addition, a positive but weak relationship was revealed between the clinical leadership and the quality of relationships amongst nurses. Organisational issues, insufficiency of nursing staff and patient care were found to be related to ward type mental health nurses stress emerged as mediating variables between stress and job satisfaction. A hypothetical beat of the relationships between these variables is presented for testing at a future study.2.45 A research study by Deptt of medicine (2006). University of Ottawa, enitiled, prevalence of burnout, job stress and job satisfactionThe findings are that checkup personnel are experiencing burnout and high levels of stress and that large numbers are considering leaving or decreasing their work hours. This is an important finding for the cancer care system, where highly trained and experienced health care workers are already in short supply.2.46 A research paper, School of Health Care Practice 2006, Anglia Polytechnic University, Chelmsford, Essex(2009), UK, entitled Workplace stress in nursing a literature review,finds. Workload, management style, professional conflict and emotionalcost of caring and leadership style, lack of reward and shift working are the main sources of stress for nurses for many years. Stress management programe should concentrate on stress prevention as well as how organization should takle this vital issue.2.47 The Graduate College University of Wisconsin-Stout(2005), a explore Paper with titleOCCUPATIONAL STRESS INMENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS,concludes thatThe Weiman Occupational Stress Scale, introduced in1978, is designed to measure perceived levels of occupational stress. The mental healthcounselors involved in completing the survey instruments scored an median(a) of 2.57 on afive point scale, with past administra tions of the Weiman Occupational Stress Scalehaving yielded a baseline score of 2.25. The mental health counselors in this study scoredon average 13% higher than the calculated WOSS baseline.employees in publiclyfunded institutions (Winnebago Mental Health) experience greater perceived work stressthan those counselors in privately funded clinics.2.48 Research survey conducted by Carol Brewer(2000) has shown that newly nurses face considerable professional stress and would benefit from improved nursing managementNewly licensed nurses considered their jobs difficult, and they worked long hours 51 pct worked automatic overtime, 13 percent mandatory overtime. Sixty-one percent were assigned to nights, evenings or rotating shifts. Nearly both-thirds 62.78 percent said their work interfered with family life on at least(prenominal) four days a month, according to the results.Survey participants also reported a somewhat hazardous working environment a quarter of respondents sustained at least one needle-stick in a year 39 percent at least one strain or sprain 21 percent a cut or laceration, 46 percent a bruise or contusion, and 62 percent reported experiencing verbal abuse on the job. A quarter found it difficult or impossible to do their jobs at least once a week due to inadequate supplies, the study showed.2.49 An Exploration study of Job Stressors ofClinical Nursing Instructors in Taiwan(2001) found that clinical nursing instructors work-related stressors include inadequate role occupancy, increasing work demands, deficient role preparedness, lowered role control, insufficient role support, and role bargain. When a clinical instructor with lowered role control experiences more stressors, the situation of role stress will deteriorate. Role support and role bargain are the buffers of work-related stress to adapt clinical instructors for the rapidly changing educational and medical environment. Consequently, adequate role credibility for role occupancy is a nece ssary strategy for reducing clinical instructors work-related strain during organizational rapid change.2.50 European Journal(2005) of Social Sciences ,article entitled Link between Job Stress and Job Satisfaction,Show that there is a significant negative relationshipbetween job stress and job satisfaction.According to Stamps Piedmonte (1986) job satisfaction has been found significant relationship with job stress. One study ofgeneral practitioners in England identified four job stressors that were predictive of job dissatisfaction(Cooper, et al., 1989). In other study, Vinokur-Kaplan (1991) verbalize that organization factors such asworkload and working condition were negatively related with job satisfaction. Fletcher Payne (1980)identified that a lack of satisfaction can be a source of stress, while high satisfaction can alleviate theeffects of stress. This study reveals that, both of job stress and job satisfaction were found to be interrelated.The study of Landsbergis (1988) a nd Terry et al. (1993) showed that high levels of work stressare associated with low levels of job satisfaction. Moreover, Cummins (1990) have emphasized thatjob stressors are predictive of job dissatisfaction and greater propensity to leave the organization.Sheena et al. (2005) analyse in UK found that there are some occupations that are describe worse thanaverage scores on each of the factors such as physical health, psychological well-being, and jobsatisfaction. The relationship between variables can be very important to academician. If a definite linkexists between two variables, it could be possible for a academician to provide intervention in order toincrease the level of one of the variables in hope that the intervention will also improve the othervariable as well (Koslowsky, et al., 1995).2.51 A Study of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction among University ply in Malaysia a research article(2007) investigates the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction. Inverse re lationship exist between job stress and job satisfaction The determinants of job stress that have been examined under this study include, management role, relationship with others, workload pressure, homework interface, role ambiguity, and role conflict.2.5 might of Education(2001),University of Ibadan, article, Effects of Job Stress ,states that stress has negative effect on health, physical and mental,work behaviour,and performance,satisfavtion level.2.53 Heavy workloads, difficult students and lack of resources are stressing out Australian teachers(1999). Many also experience stress from increasing violence and bullying. In one recent year, 274 teachers in Victoria were either assaulted or exist by students and another 70 were attacked by colleagues. Over the past five years , 910 teachers in Victoria and 1150 teachers in New South Wales have filed worker compensation claims for anxiety,depression,nervous breakdown and other stress related symptom. labor union leaders say these figures are just the tip of the iceberg instructor are very reluctant to proceed with those claims because it just adds another problem and additional stress, explains Australian education union president John Gregoryprecept in Australia may be stressful, but the profession seems to be under siege in the Uk , Janice Howell a primary school teacher in Newport (South Wales)is one of the casualties. She initially had the assistance of an English language teacher but that teacher took long-term leave with no replacement. Unable to cope with 28 kids, 11 of them with learning or behavioral difficulties, Howell had a nervous breakdown. subsequently recovering several months later, Howell complained to the school about the intolerable stress. Rather than providing support, the school added two more troubled kids to Howells class. One student, new to Wales, ran away one morning and was seen playing near dangerous mudflats. Although he was taken home safely, no one told Howell until the end of the day. This led to Howells second breakdown, ending her career.From being a confident, well adjusted teacher who enjoyed her job I became down in the mouth and dysfunctional, says Howell for the first time in my life I did not hope to go to work. It got to the stage that I was physically unable to enter the classroom.(DD)2.54 Nebuo Miuro (1999) quoted in the book about stress that employees are under a draw play of pressure from his employer to get a new restaurant ready for its launch. The interiors better from Tokyo worked late, sometimes until 4.30 in the morning. After one such marathon, Miuro caught a few hour sleep, then return for another long day. But he didnt get very far. The 47 year old utterly took ill and keeled over while picking up his hammering and nails. He died a week later. The corners verdict was that Miuro died of Karoshi_death by overwork.Karoshi accounts for nearly myriad deaths each year in Japan. Research indicates that long work hours cause an u nhealthy lifestyle such as smoking, poor eating habits, lack of physical exercise and sleeplessness. This result in weight gain, which, along with stressful working conditions, damages the cardiovascular system and leads to strokes and heart attacks.Karoshi came to the public blaze in the 1970s when Japans economy was booming, but the countrys current recession is making matters worse.companies are laying off employees and loading the extra work onto those who remain. Performance based expectations are replacing life qtime employment guarantees, putting moreover pressure on employees to work long hours. Many also blamed Japans samurai spirit culture which idolizes long work hours as the ultimate symbolisation of company loyalty and personal fortitude. Being exhausted is considered a truth explains a Japanese psychiatrist.So far, only 17 percent of Japanese companies offer over stressed employees some form of counseling. However the Japanese Government has launched an advertisin g campaign encouraging people to call a Karoshi hotline for anonymous help. The families of deceased workaholics , including Nobuo Mauros relatives are also taking action by suing the employers for lack of due care.(dd)2.55 A report (2001) entitled Job Stress and Burnout Among Canadian Managers and Nurses examined the relationship of job stress with burnout and its three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, lack of attainment and depersonalization), job satisfaction, organizational commitment and psychosomatic, health problems. Job stress was importantly check with overall burnout and its three dimensions and job satisfaction in both samples. In the nursing sample, job stress was also significantly correlated with psychosomatic health problems and organizational commitment. Moderated multiple regressions only marginally back up the role of gender as a moderator of stress-burnout relationship.2.56An articl (2001) on Occupational stress experienced by male and female employeesindicate that there are statistically significant differences in the stress levels of employees based on their gender. With females experiences more stress then male. And physical conditions are considered as a most stressful factor for females. Male experiences less stress with physical conditions. Women were found to experience more stress then male. They are more touched by physical conditions such as noise, lightning etcTop of Form2.57 Journal of Managerial Psychology(2006), report on Occupational stress in different organizations , a Saudi Arabian survey(2006) The main source of stress for employees working in private organizations is the lack of knowledge about their performance military rating results, while this is not the case for employees working in public organizations Saudi employees have the highest levels of stress, with Arabs second, Asians third, while Westerners (Europeans and North Americans) registered the lowest levels of stress employees who are less than 30 years old experience the highest levels of stress employees with six-to-ten years of experience show the highest levels of stress and there is a significant inverse relationship between educational level and stress level.Top of Form tin can of Form2.58 An article on Occupational stress and depression in Korean employees (2001).Inadequate social support and discomfort in occupational climate is a better predictorof depressive symptoms than organizational injustice in Korea, indicates that the newlydeveloped KOSS has pagan relevance for assessing occupational stress in Korea.2.59 Department of Psychology Applied Psychology research study(2008) University of the Punjab, OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND JOB PERFORMANCE, indicated Workload, co-workers and repetitive work are identified as the major factors causing stress. It is concluded that there is moderate level of stress with significant difference in different departments however affect of stress is found on job performance in the selected organiza tion.2.60 About Occupational Stress and Employee Control (1992) Industrial psychologists observed that how much latitude employees have at work their control over job-related decisions affects their health, their morale and their ability to handle their workload. Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham (1976) reportedthat control (in terms of job-provided autonomy) conjure upd motivating and growth in blue collar, white collar and professional positions. Then, in 1979, Robert Karasek(1979) found that workers whose jobs rated high in job demands yet low in employee control (as measured by latitude over decisions) reported significantly more exhaustion after work, trouble awakening in the morning, depression, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia or disturbed sleep than other workers. When workers facing high demands had more control, their stress was lower. This major insight into how occupational stressors affect health and well-being has led to ongoing improvements in the workplace. Fo r example, many organizations have implemented programs designed to enhance employee control.2.61 Colegio Oficial de Psic.logos (2007) s article OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND STATE OF HEALTH AMONG clinical PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS revealed that the stress among mental health professionals (staff and trainees). Results showed that psychiatrists experienced less stress than their colleagues, and suggest specific associations between situational stressors and state of health. In particular, frustration in carrying out their work is linked to high levels of self-reported symptoms in psychologists.2.62 A reprt presented by European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment and Social Affairs, European Union (2007) states that work-related stress affects at least 40 million workers in its 15 Member States and that it costs the European Union approx. 20 billion annually. It is now widely acknowledged that stress at work is a very common problem and that it has a very high cost in ter ms of workers health, absenteeism and lower performance. 26% of workers who reported an injury or illness felt that they suffered from stress while at work in the last 12 months, and that this percentage rises2.63 A Report titledEffects of Job Stress on Health, Personal and Work deportmentof Nurses in Public Hospitals (2006), Department of Social Work, Faculty of Education,University of Ibadan, Nigeria,established that job stress has significant effect on physical and mental health of the nurses. It also established that there was a significantdifference in personal and work behaviour of highly stressed nurses and less stressed nurses. establish on these findings,it was recommended that the government (Federal or State) and Hospital Management Boards should improve the eudaimonia of the nurses. It was also recommended that their morale should be boosted by involving them in policy or decision-making concerning their welfare or care of their patients. Their salary should be reviewe d and that they should be promoted as at when due. Work-home interference among nurses reciprocal relationships with job demands and healt. The higher nurses job demands, the higher is their level of work-home interference and the more likely is a general health deterioration over time, in turn giving rise to higher job demands and work-home interference, which may even aggravate the nurses general health, and so on.( Research study by University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2006)