3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Occupational stress in an information and communication technology company in South Africa(2018-11-06) Setlhakgoe, Moyagabo ReginaldBackground Occupational stress is a major concern globally as it results in significant negative economic and health effects. This study is aimed to measure the prevalence of occupational stress and identify workplace risk factors that are related to occupational stress among junior and middle management employees in an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) company in South Africa. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study. Primary data were collected using the medium size version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ II) between August 2016 and December 2016. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire was used for this study because it had been validated for the South African context and also comes with reference values which can be used to interpret the study findings relative to the normative values. The intended sample size for the study was 230, stratified into men (n=154) and women (n=76). Prevalence of occupational stress was measured for both men and women, and regression models were applied to estimate associations between exposure variables namely stress, burnout, sleeping troubles and self-rated health and outcome variables. Results The overall study response rate was 64.8%. The response rate for men was 52.5% and for women was 89.5%. The study sample had a mean value of 45.29 (SD25.03) for stress, 50 (SD30.1) for burnout and 37.5 (SD32.4) for sleeping troubles. These study sample means were higher than the respective reference mean values of 26.7 (SD17.7), 34.1 (SD 18.2) and 21.3 (SD 19.0). Self-rated health had a study sample mean of 59.53 (SD 26.99), which was lower than the reference value of 66.0 (SD 20.9). These differences between the study sample’s mean values for stress, burnout, sleeping troubles and self-rated health and reference means were statistically significant with p- values of < 0.001 for stress and sleeping troubles, p=0.001 for burnout, and p=0.003 for self-rated health. There were no statistically significant differences (p >0.05) found between the mean values for stress, burnout, sleeping troubles and self-rated health for men and women. Work- family conflict was the most common significant (p<0.05) harmful risk factor for stress (men: OR 15.06, 95% CI: 4.64 - 48.81; women: OR 6.59, 95% CI: 1.73 - 25.09), burnout (men: OR 11.86, 95%CI: 3.50-40.22; women: OR 11.90, 95%CI: 2.80-50.62), sleeping troubles (men OR 23.11,95%CI: 4.66-114.66) and self-rated health (men OR 16.00, 95%CI: 1.49-171.48; women OR 10.47, 95%CI: 2.12-51.69) among both men and women. Conclusion The study sample results demonstrated a higher prevalence of occupational stress among study participants. This was reflected by higher levels of stress, burnout and sleeping troubles, and lower levels of self-rated health. These factors are regarded by COPSOQ as indicators of health and wellbeing and it can therefore be inferred that occupational stress existed amongst the study participants. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of occupational stress between men and women. Family-work conflict was the main risk factor associated with occupational stress for both men and women, while the presence of interpersonal relations and leadership factors (e.g. social community at work and social support from supervisors) were found to be negatively associated with occupational stress, especially among women. Based on the response rate, the findings of this study must be generalised to the whole workforce with caution particularly for men as this stratum had a lower response rate. Further research into the factors of work-family conflict is recommended, and occupational stress interventions should be implemented to address the identified risk factors in order to manage the level of occupational stress for this study group.Item Social workers' experiences of occupational stress : a study in the Department of Social Development, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province(2016) Moyane, Ntombenhle BrendaThe primary purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of occupational stress among social workers employed by the Department of Social Development in Mpumalanga Province, Ehlanzeni District. Mpumalanga Province is predominantly rural and the assumption is that work-related challenges for social workers in rural areas are different from urban areas. There are theoretical basis suggesting that people view and respond to stress differently thus their coping strategies even in identical situations are different. The study has therefore focused on the experiences of occupational stress among social workers, the contributory factors that led to occupational stress, the impact of occupational stress, the social workers’ coping strategies with occupational stress; and the availability and effectiveness of organisational support offered to employees experiencing occupational stress as perceived by social workers. The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher utilised a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions, together with the Work-Related Quality of Life scale consisting of closed questions that measured work stress, administered to 40 social workers employed at Ehlanzeni District offices. One year’s working experience as a social worker in the Department of Social Development was a qualifying criterion in the study. Thematic content analysis and descriptive statistical analysis were used to analyse data. The findings of the study suggested that unsatisfactory salaries, working conditions, high workload, lack of recognition and a lack of support were the main stressors for social workers in this study. The research concluded with recommendations that will hopefully assist in improving the quality of work-life of the sound workers and facilitate a balanced understanding between the employees and the employer.Item Discriminant validation of the three dimensions of burnout(1990) Else, James RodneyThe prevailing understanding of burnout is firmly entrenched in, and has been fundamentally influenced by, the three component definition of the burnout concept proposed by Maslach and Jackson (1981), as evidenced in its almost exclusive application in the burnout research and theoretical developments (Maslach & Jackson, 1986; Shirorn, 1989). Although the construct validity of the three factor burnout structure is well established, no research could be found which has investigated the discriminant validny of this construct. Thus the aim of tha present study was to determine how emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and low feelings of personal accomplishment may relate differentially to conceptually related variables. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]Item An analysis of the relationship between coping strategies used and incidence of relapse in myalgic encephalomyelitis(2016-07-20) Biccard, Anne-MarieThis dissertation studies the relationship between the use of certain coping strategies and the relapse of'illness, Eighty subjects with 1\'{yalgicEncephalomyelitis (M.E.) were followed OVera nine month period, initially completing a biographical questionnaire which showed some interesting common features, but these characteristics may be attributed to the narrow population from which the sample was drawn. The subjects then completed a battery of tests every eight weeks. These tests monitored appraisal of stressors, ways of coping and general health over the eight weeks since the previous test. Results were analysed using a Pearson's product moment correlation and a principal components factor analysis with a varimax rotation. The subjects were expected to show a positive correlat'on between certain coping techniques (such as denial, avoidance, and self- blame) and the relapse of M.B., while a zero or negative correlation between other coping techniques (such as seeking social support and problem solving when the stressor is controllable) and relapse. Neither of these hypotheses was supported by the data gathered. However, the subjects showed a remarkable consistency inthe types of'coping used, rather than adapting the mode of coping to the type of stressor experienced. It was concluded that the subjects used abnormal coping techniques and that these techniques Weresomehow related to their illness. However, the exact causal relationship between the coping techniques and the illness could not be assessed. It is possible that the subjects' poor coping mechanisms contributed to the development and exacerbation of the illness but it in also possible that the illness limited the repertoire of coping techniques available to the p"atient.