Textile workers: Occupational Stress, coping strategies and related factors

Koseoglu Ornek, O.1 and Esin, M.N., 20152

1 Istanbul Bilgi University, 2 Istanbul University

Presenter

Ozlem Koseoglu OrnekPhd student- Lecturer

E mail: ozlem.koseoglu@bilgi.edu.tr

Istanbul-2015

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Textile workers and Occupational Stress

Textile business sector takes very significant share in working area in Turkey.

There are thousands workers in this area. Generally, they work long time in

unhealthy and unsafety conditions, extreme workload and also get less paid. The

most of them are women and have low-socieconomic conditions which make them

vulnerable.

So, occupational stress is unavoidable due to contemproray work environment

which is defined in many different words in the related literature. Such as job

stress, stres at workplace.

3 Textile workers and Occupational Stress

Occupational stress; when demand s of the occupation is not compatible with the

skills, knowledge and capability of the employee , this would overwhelm the coping

mechanism this employee and occupational stress would develop in response to

this (Akintayo, 2012; Peterson and Wilson, 2002).

These responses would inevitably vary for each individual. However, employee

who works in such a conditions like Textile sectors have more risky to develop

stress.

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Moreover, the effect of the stress varies between genders too, placing females in a

more disadvantaged and vulnerable category when compared to their male

counterparts.

Research regarding effects of the stress on different genders revealed that woman

are twice more likely to develop symptoms of stress than man.

(Bilsker, Gilbert,Myete and Patterson, 2005).

5Coping Strategies

Coping mechanism with stress is different to person to person. It is much

easier to coping with short time stress and it even contribute one’s

motivation compare to long time stress.

Long time stress caused impairment of the productivity and performance

of the employees as well as mental health problems such as depression

(Wada et al., (2013)

6 Coping Strategies

The most important thing is to choose and practice a suitable coping strategies

one’s personalitiy and conditions.

These are yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, relaxing exercises, enjoying

time with friend and family, walking, and spending time for hobbies...

7Occupational Stress’ Symptoms

Generally observed physical symptoms are high blood pressure, high pulse, cheyne stokes respiration, decrease of immuglobulin IgA, increase of secretion of kortisol hormone, headache, stomachache, heart diseases, obesity, sleep disturbances and tense of muscles.

Mental health symptoms involve irritability, tension, aggressive behaviours, lack of concentration, depression, perception disorder and obliviousness.

Development of such symptoms of physical and mental ill health decreases the job quality, absenteeism, productivity, motivation, and threat workers health and safety

(Houtman, Jettinghoff and Cedillo, 2007)

8Some common factors of Occupational stressor

These are changable work to work but these are the most commons according related literature. Such as;

Excessive workloads

Low salaries

Conflicting demands

Unclear rolles definitions

Lack of social support or little support from colleques or supervisors

Little contol over job process

Poor work organization

Few oppurtinities for advancement

(American Pschological Association, 2015)

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As a result of these conditions and outcomes, health protection, prevention

and also promotion programs should be organized and implemented at the

workplace.

Occupational health nurses as a member of occupational team can take part

easily and effectively in these programs.

Accordingly, there was a necessity of such a research as define health problems

and to be used as a guide for health promotion programs.

10 Research title: Textile workers: Occupational Stress, coping strategies and related factors

The aim of this research study has been to examine occupational stress, coping strategies with stressors and relevant factors in textile workers.

Method: It is a descriptive and cross sectional design. The data was collected from textile factories by using;

1. The Descriptive Characteristics of the worker’s Assessment Form,

2. The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) which was developed by Shimomitsu and et

all, (2000) in Japan.

3. The Brief Scales for Coping Profiles (BSCP) that was developed by Kageyama,

Kobayashi, Kawashima and Kanamaru, (2004).

11 Measurements

1. The Descriptive Characteristics of the worker’s Assessment Form

It was formed by the researcher according to related literature.

It is comprised of 24 questions such as age, gender, mariage status, occupation, working time, economic situation, chronic and acut disease, sleep patterns, salary, education situation...) and,

2 questions about evaluation of work performance which were cited from related research by World Health Organization (Kessler et all., 2004; Kessler et all, 2003).

12 2. The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ)

It was developed by Shimomitsu and et all, (2000) in Japan. It is consist of 57 items and graded on 4 point-scale. It has 4 subscales which are;

• Physical symptoms

• Psychological symptoms) and

• Job stress

• Social support

13 2. The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ)

It has been translated and adapted for use in Turkish by Koseoglu Ornek and Esin, 2015.

The both measurement have been found to have reliability and validity values.

The Cronbach alphas score of The BJSQ was 0.74.

According to factor analysis, the item total correlation coefficients ranges from 0.45 to

0.77.

14 3. The Brief Scales for Coping Profiles (BSCP)

It was developed by Kageyama, Kobayashi, Kawashima and Kanamaru, (2004).

It is comprised of 18 questionsand graded on 4 point-scale. It has 6 subscales which are;

1. Active solution

2. Seeking help for solution

3. Changing mood

4. Changing a point of view

5. Emotional expression involving others

6. Avoidance and suppression

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3. The Brief Scales for Coping Profiles (BSCP)

It has been translated and adapted for use in Turkish by Koseoglu Ornek and Esin, 2015.

The both measurement have been found to have reliability and validity values.

The Cronbach alphas score of the BSCP was 0.72.

According to factor analysis, the item total correlation coefficients ranges from 0.48 to

0.73.

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Results- Demographic caharecteristics

The research samples were consisting of 668 textile workers.

More than 53% of the workers were women.

The mean age of all subjects was 33,2±9,9 years.

Almost 49% of the workers had graduated from just primary school.

The mean working hours per week was 62±5,9.

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Almost 8% of the workers have worked without formal compulsory insurance payment by the employer.

69% of the workers defined their economic conditions as “good”.

Almost 77% of the workers defined their health conditions as “good”

More than 80% of them earn 270-500 USD dollars.

Almost 40% of the workers gave 10 out of 10 point, 17.7% of them gave 8/10 to their

“general work performance”

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Results- the Brief Job Stress Questionnairee

The score of the BJSQ was 113,9±20,3 (median:112),

its subscales;

The physical symptoms’ score was 15.3±12,9 (median:14),

The psychological symptoms was 24,8±7,3(median:24) and

The job stress was 54,2±9,24 (median:53).

The social support was 17,7±4,9 (median:17)

The scores above the median indicating job stress.

19Results- Coping Strategies

The scores of the BSCP was 53,8±8,3 (median:54),

The scores from its 2 subscales which were higher than median;

“Changing a point of view” 8,2 ± 2,37 (median:8) and

“Seeking help for solution” 2,9±1,1 (median: 2)

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Results- Coping Strategies

Theother scores from its some subscales which were lower than median;

Emotional expression involving others 4,8 ± 1,6 (median:5)

Avoidance and suppression 4,6 ± 1,6 (median:5)

The scores above the median indicating unsuccessful coping methods.

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Results- related Factors

It was found significant an association between the workers’ gender and physical

symptoms (p˂0.05).

It was shown that psychological symptoms and job stress’ level has ranged according to

their economical situation (respectively; H=18,512 df= 3 p=0,000, H=7,954 df=3

p˂0,05).

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Results- related Factors

It was found negative correlation between job stress’ level and the workers’ sleep quality and also general working performance (respectively;Spearman’s q=-0,091, p=0,000:Spearman’s q= -0,126, p=0,001).

However, it was found positive correlation between psychological symptoms and the working hours peer week (Spearman’s q= 0,082, p=0,05).

23 Conclusion

The job stress’s level of the workers were found high and the coping profiles were found insufficient.

Ultimately, these findings can be used as guidelines for the prevention of health problems in textile workers.

24 References

Akintayo, D. I., 2012. Occupational stress, psychological well-being and workers’ behaviour in manufacturing industruies in South-west

Nigeria. Research Journal in Organizational Psychology & Educational Studies, 1:5;289-294

American Pschological Association, 2015. Internet access; http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/work-stress.aspx, retrieved at 17.08.2015.

Bilsker, Gilbert,Myete ve Patterson, 2005. Depression & Work Function: Bridging the gap between mental health care & the workplace.

Retrieved at :15 April 2015

http://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/carmha/resources/depression-work-function-bridging-the-gap-between/Work-Depression.pdf

Houtman, I., Jettinghoff, K., ve Cedillo, L., 2007. Raising Awareness of Stress at Work in Developing Countries . Retrieved at: 20 May

2015, http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/raisingawarenessofstress.pdf?ua=1

Kageyama, T., Kobayashi, T., Kawashima, M., & Kanamaru, Y. (2004). [Development of the Brief Scales for Coping Profile (BSCP) for

workers: basic information about its reliability and validity]. Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi= Journal of occupational health, 46(4), 103-114.

Peterson, M., ve Wilson, J.F., 2002. The culture-Work-Health Model and Work stress. Am J Health Behav, 26(1):16-24

Shimomitsu T, Haratani T, Nakamura K, Kawakami N, Hayashi T, Hiro H, Arai M, Miyazaki S, Furuki K, Ohya Y, and Odagiri Y., 2000.

The final development of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire mainly used for assessment of the individuals. In: Kato M, ed. Research report

of the Grant for the Prevention of Work Related Disease Sponsored by The Ministry of Labour: The 1999 Report, 126-137. Tokyo, Japan

25 Thanks for attention…!