Occupational Stress and Coping Styles among Doctors: Role of Demographic and Environment Variables

Abstract

Stress has been regarded as an occupational hazard since mid-1950s. In fact, occupational stress has been cited as a significant health problem among most of the occupational groups. Numerous studies have explored work stress among health care personnel in many countries. This study is an attempt to examine the nature and levels of role stress experienced by doctors in government hospitals across gender, experience, specialization and geographical areas in India. An attempt has also been made to explore the various coping styles adopted by doctors to deal with workplace stress. The sample consists of 334 doctors working at the government hospitals. To attain the objectives of the study, psychometric instrument, Organizational Role Stress Scale (Pareek, 1983), and a semi-projective instrument, Role Pics (Pareek, Devi & Rosenzweig, 1968), were administered to the sample population to obtain data pertaining to role stress and coping styles. The findings of the study revealed that female doctors experience more stress than their male counterparts. On the basis of geographical areas, stress score for doctors in disturbed ambience is significantly higher than the doctors in peaceful ambience. In addition, there exists a difference in the nature and quantum of role stress among doctors belonging to various specializations and different experience groups. The results on the basis of ‘Role Pics’ revealed that the majority of doctors employed defensive mode of coping (avoidance coping), followed by impersistive coping style (approach coping).