Psychological well-being among IT/ITES employees: a socio-economic and demographic analysis

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to study and measure the level of the psychological well-being, of the employees in IT/ITES organizations and to find out whether the psychological well-being (PWB), of the IT/ITES employees significantly varies with their socio-economic and demographic profiles.Design/methodology/approachStudy was conducted among the employees in IT/ITES companies in Infopark, a cluster of companies, in Cochin. There are 30,000 employees estimated as working in different companies in Infopark. Considering the size of the population, the researcher targeted 1200 sample respondents (covering 4% of the population) and distributed 1400 questionnaires to IT/ITES employees of different companies in Infopark. The response rate was 78%, hence, the researcher could get back 1092 filled questionnaires. However, out of 1092, filled questionnaires, 24 questionnaires (2.20%) were found to be either incomplete or with mistakes and hence not in usable nature. These were eliminated from the final sample. The final sample for this study is (1092–24) thus taken as 1068 IT/ITES employees (3.56%) in Infopark, Kochi. psychological well-being (PWB) of the employees in IT/ITES organizations was measured using the PWB scale by Ryff (1989). Data analysis was done using parametric tests like, independent sample test and analysis of variance.FindingsThe current study tries to explain the variation in PWB, of IT/ITES employees with respect to their socio-economic and demographic profiles. Based on the independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA test results relating to H1a (gender), H1b (age), H1c (work-experience) and H1d (employment level) the overall hypothesis H1: PWB exhibited by the IT/ITES employees significantly varies with their socio-economic and demographic profiles is rejected. Hence it is concluded that PWB among IT/ITES employees do not significantly differ with respect to their socio-economic and demographic profile.Research limitations/implicationsThe study results may help the academia, trainers and researchers to identify new ways of improving PWB among employees. It will also help them to focus on training programmes, targeting toward the betterment of PWB. Policymakers' role is significant in promoting PWB among employees so as to ensure sustainable organizational performance.Practical implicationsThe study will help managers to provide a conducive work place where employees are psychologically mature and carry positive attitude toward work, work environment and co-workers. Planned interventions are necessary to enhance team spirit, cooperation, cohesiveness and collaboration among employees.Social implicationsWith the study findings new psychosocial interventions could be offered to the IT/ITES professionals in the form of training and personality development programmes. This will directly influence team effectiveness among employees.Originality/valueA study on PWB has not yet been done among the Infopark employees. Thus, a study to assess the level of PWB carried out among IT/ITES professionals in Kochi is quite a new approach. A study of this nature is believed to help employers take measures for enhancing the PWB which will help to improve the team performance and thus the performance of the company as a whole.