Measuring Occupational Stress Within A Cross Section Of The Working Ghanaian Population And Determining Its Relationship With Health

Abstract

The major objectives of the study were to determine if Occupational stress existed

amongst Ghanaian workers, and if there was a relationship between Occupational

Stress and Health. It was also the objective of the study to collect normative data for the

Ghanaian Population.

Four hundred and sixteen Government employees in both managerial and non

managerial positions were selected from key Government Organizations, including the

security Services.

These employees completed two inventories, the Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI)

which has three Domains, the Occupational Role Domain, the Personal Strain Domain

and the Personal Resources Domain. The Inventory measures Occupational Stress and

Personal Strain and gives a~ indication of the Coping resources available to the

individual to relieve these stresses.

The second Inventory was the Stress Symptom Inventory that consisted of emotional

symptoms due to stress that the employees could be experiencing.

Correlational Analyses were done between the Occupational Stress Inventory, its

Domains, the Stress Symptoms Inventory and the number of visits to hospital. The

results revealed on the measures used that the employees of this study did experience

Occupational Stress and Personal Strain. There were no differences between managers

and non-managers. Results did show that the participants did make use of various

Personal Resources in order to relieve their stress and that they sought medical

attention for the Symptoms that they suffered for these Stresses.

! study hO'Hever indicated that in spite of the Personal Resources available to the

Jloyee, these resources 'Here either inadequate or failed them entirely. It has

~efore been suggested that a more in attention be given to Occupational Stress in

work place, and that emphasis should be paid to the relationship beMeen

::upational Stress and health. There should be more education for members as to

v to improve their Personal Resources.