Occupational Health Stress in the Service Sector

Authors

Fozia Malik, Quaid-i-Azam UniversityFollow
Shaan Shahabuddin, Texas A&M UniversityFollow

Abstract

The basic purpose of the current study was to explore the occupational health stress reasons, consequences, and job outcomes in the service sector as well as to suggest stress management techniques to overcome stress. This research used a mixed qualitative research methodology, which included a collective case study method as well as a narrative inquiry method. Respondents (both males and females) were selected from two of the most important service sectors -- the banking industry where working hours are long, and the education sector where working hours are comparatively short. A total of eight case studies were taken through focus group discussions in which respondents were requested to write a one-page report about their work experiences, problems faced at their workplace, whether they were facing any stressful challenge and threat, and how their health was affecting them due to stressful situations at the workplace. The data was reported from the words of respondents as it was written on their response forms. From the list of responses, the following themes emerged and were derived in Figure 1: stressors (reasons), consequences (change in physical, psychological, and behavioral response), and outcomes (job outcomes). Stress management techniques were suggested from an organizational and individual point of view.

Keywords

Occupational Health Stress, Stress Management Techniques, Stressors, Service Sector

Author Bio(s)

Fozia Malik is a Ph.D Scholar at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. She has been working as an Assistant Professor for the past 10 years, and her areas of interest include Marketing, Psychology, and Human Resource Management. Fozia also works as consultant and trainer. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: Fozia Malik at Email: fmalik@consultant.com

Shaan Shahabuddin has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University, a Master’s degree in Psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Leadership from Texas A&M University. His research focuses on leadership, risk-taking, emotions, anticipation, persuasion, and memory. Shaan works as an Adjunct Professor at Blinn College and teaches General Psychology. Shaan has also worked as a Teaching Assistant in his department and has given numerous lectures on decision-making, diversity, and psychology. After graduation, Shaan hopes to obtain a career in academia where he can continue teaching and conducting research. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: Shaan Shahabuddin at Email: sss10819@gmail.com

Publication Date

3-1-2015

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2272

Recommended APA Citation

Malik, F., & Shahabuddin, S. (2015). Occupational Health Stress in the Service Sector. The Qualitative Report, 20(3), 234-250. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2272