Psychological Reports, 1990, 67, 979-983.
O Psychological Reports 1990
STRESS AS PERCEIVED BY PROFESSIONALS ' BERNADETTE M. GADZELLA, DEAN W. GINTHER, MARYJANE TOMCALA, AND G E O R G E W. BRYANT East Texas State Uniuersiiy Summary.-This study investigated differences in stress by sex, levels, age, and job classifications as perceived by 173 professionals. Subjects responded to the Tennessee Stress Scale-L questionnaire which provides measures for the three subscales (Stress Producers, Coping Mechanisms, and Stress Symptoms) and Total Stress. Significant ddferences were found between sexes and among stress levels, age groups, and job classifications on various subscales and total stress measures.
Stress is defined as any demand that creates tension or threat and requires a change or an adaptation (Coleman, Morris, & Glaros, 1987). Many sources of stress arise from events in life. Selye (1976), in his General Adaptation Syndrome, provided an excellent description of environmental stress. People in various professions experience events, demands, and threats related to their jobs. Recently, much attention has been focused on how to improve one's lifestyle by reducing stressful events. Researchers (Eysenck, 1983; Rosenman & Chesne~, 1982; Schnorr & McWilliams, 1987, 1988; Selye, 1983) have studied the role of stress producers and the ways individuals handle stressful situations. Schnorr and McWilliams (1987, 1988) reported stressors experienced in administrative and professional roles. They analyzed responses to a work-related stress questionnaire for 800 subjects. Significant differences were found on a stress scale (a) between sexes on stress producers and stress symptoms, respectively, (b) among regions of the country, with the western region reporting lower scores than the eastern region, and (c) among various professionals on a number of demographic variables. The aim of the present study was to explore stresses experienced by professionals in the southwestern USA. Specifically, the focus was to assess whether there were significant differences (a) among professionals' perceived stress levels, (b) between men and women, (c) among age groups, and (d) among types of jobs. The predictions were that there would be significant differences on some stress measures for each of the possible comparisons.
METHOD Subjects were 173 individuals, employed in various jobs in northeastern
'Request reprints from B. M. Gadzella, Department of Psychology and Special Education, East Texas Stare University, Commerce, Texas 75428.
980
B. M. GADZELLA. E T A L .
Texas, who responded to a survey questionnaire on stress. In this group were 57 men and 116 women. Subjects who reported their ages were assigned into one of the three age groups: 19-30 yr., had 44 subjects; 31-40 yr., had 57 subjects; and 41-63 yr., had 58 subjects. Fourteen individuals did not indicate their ages. Subjects reported their perceived stress as mild, moderate, or severe. There were 34 individuals with mild stress, 109 with moderate, and 30 with severe stress. Subjects described their jobs as staff, midlevel managers, or executives. There were 113 staff, 44 midlevel managers, and 12 executives. Four individuals did not report job classifications. The Tennessee Stress Scale-L, a Work-related Stress Inventory for Professionals (McWilliams & Schnorr, 1986) was the instrument given. This is a 60-item, self-report instrument concerning stress on a job. Responses to each item in the questionnaire are reported on a Likert scale in which 1 = never, 2 = seldom, 3 = occasionally, 4 = often, and 5 = most of the time. The total scores range from 60 to 300. A score of 60 indicates a minimum level, and a score of 300 a maximum level of stress. A total score is the sum of three subscale scores: (a) Stress Producers, (b) Coping Mechanisms, and (c) Stress Symptoms. Each subscale has 20 items. Subjects were given the questionnaire and asked to return it as soon as possible. Using some of the demographic data (stress levels, sex, age groups, and job classifications) one- and two-way analyses of variance were applied to analyze the subscale and the total scores of the Tennessee Stress Scale-L. The statistical software used to analyze the data was Number Cruncher Statistical Systems (NCSS), Version 5.02 (available from Pacific Ease Company, Santa Monica, CA 90405).
RESULTS There were no significant interactions for the groups on any of the variables on the scales studied. The means, standard deviations, and F ratios for the Tennessee Stress Scale-L scores for the three levels of stress are summarized in Table 1. The results showed, as expected, significant differences among the three levels on all the subscales and on total scores; see Table 1. Duncan's range test showed significant differences ( p < .05) between all paired groups on all subscales and on total scores for the three levels of stress. Simply stated, subjects identified their stress accurately, that is, subjects with moderate stress reported higher scores than subjects with mild stress. Subjects with severe stress reported higher scores than subjects with moderate stress. In Table 2, the means, standard deviations, and F ratios on stress scores for men and women are presented. The women reported higher mean scores than men on all scales. But, their scores were significantly higher on Stress Symptoms (F,,,,, = 5.46, p < ,041 and Total Stress scores ( F,,,,, = 4.20, p < .04). The means, standard deviations, and F ratios on stress scores for the age
98 1
STRESS PERCEIVED BY PROFESSIONALS TABLE 1 MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, AND F RAnos FOR SUBSCALES AND TOTALSCORES OF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFORTHREELEVELSOF STRESS: MILD (n = 34), MODERATE (n = 109), AND SEVERE(n = 30) Scores
Stress
Stress Producers
Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe
Coping Mechanisms
Stress Symptoms
Total Stress
M
SD
F,
!To
groups are summarized in Table 3. There was a significant difference (F,,,,, = 4.84, p < .02) among the age groups on Stress Producers subscale. Duncan's range test showed a significant difference between the groups 41-63 yr. TABLE 2 MEANS,STAWDARD DEVIATIONS, A N D F RATIOS FOR SUBSCALES AND TOTALSCORESOF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFOR ~IE (n =N 57), AND WOMEN(n = 116) Scores
Sex
Stress Producers
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women
Coping Mechanisms Stress Symptoms Total Stress
M
SD
F,.,,,
and 31-40 yr., with the latter reporting higher scores. A significant difference (F,,,,,= 3.85, p < .02) was noted among the groups on the Total score. Duncan's range test showed significant differences between the groups 41-63 yr, and 19-30 yr. and 31-40 yr., respectively, with the latter groups in each case reporting higher scores. Simply stated, the two younger age groups reported higher over-all stress scores than the oldest group. I n Table 4, the means, standard deviations, and F ratios on stress scores for the three types of jobs are presented. There was a significant difference
982
B. M. GADZELLA, ET AL. TABLE 3 AND F RATIOSFOR SUBSCALES A N D TOTALSCORES MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, OF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFORTHREEAGEGROUPS: 19-30 YR. (n = 44), 31-40 YR. ( n = 57), A N D 41-63 YR. (n = 58) Scores Stress Producers
Coping Mechanisms
Stress Symptoms
Total Stress
Age Group 19-30 31-40 41-63 19-30 31-40 41-63 19-30 31-40 41-63 19-30 31-40 41-63
yr. yr. yr. yr. yr. yr. yr yr. yr. yr. yr. vr.
M
SD
54.89
9.66
F2,,>6
4.84*
(F,,,,, = 3.86, p < . 0 3 ) among the three types of jobs on Stress Producers. Duncan's range test showed significant differences between the executive and staff and rnidlevel managers, respectively, with the latter groups reportTABLE 4 MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, A N D F RATIOS FOR SUESCALESAND TOTALSCORES OF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFORTHREEJOBD E S C ~ O R S : STAFF(n = 113), MIDLEVEL MANAGERS (n = 44), A N D EXECUTIVES (n = 12) Scores Stress Producers
Coping Mechanisms
Stress Symptoms
Total Stress
Job Descriptors
M
SD
F,,,,,
Staff Midlevel Managers Executives Staff Midlevel Managers Executives Staff Midlwel Managers Executives Staff Midlwel Managers Executives
54.40 54.77 45.67 54.81 54.14 47.83 45.52 41.16 39.75 154.68 150.07 133.25
11.29 8.84 10.37 9.40 10.48 8.54 14.12 11.22 13.38 27.35 23.47 27.12
3.86*
2.84
2.33
3.73*
ing higher scores. The results were similar for Total Stress scores (F,,,, = 3.73, p < .03) and Duncan range tests. Simply stated, the lower level jobs (staff and midlevel managers) reported more stress producers and over-all stress than the highest level jobs (executives).
STRESS PERCEIVED BY PROFESSIONALS
DISCUSSION The present study assessed whether differences were significant between sexes and among stress levels, age groups, and job classifications on stress as perceived by professionals. The findings concur with those of Schnorr and McWilliams (1987, 1988) that women report more stress than men. Perhaps women undertake more responsibilities in caring for the family in addition to their professional careers. The present study showed that subjects who reported having severe stress had higher stress scores than those who reported experiencing a moderate level. Individuals who reported having moderate stress reported higher scores than subjects who reported mild levels. Generally speaking, the individuals in the younger age groups reported higher stress scores than the oldest age groups. Could it mean that individuals in the oldest age group have learned to cope with stressful situations? For the job classifications, the staff and the midlevel managers reported greater stress than the executives. These differences among jobs may be due to executives delegating the tasks to be done and the staff and midlevel managers carrying them out. Present results showed that, for groups studied, stressful situations are significantly higher for some groups than for others. These findings might assist individuals in similar types of groups to understand better their situations and to modify their lifestyles by reducing different types of stress. Other studies and analyses, using different demographic data, might provide additional information on perceptions of stress by professionals. REFERENCES COLEMAN, J. C., MORRIS,C. G . , & GLAROS,A. G. (1987) Contemporary psychology and effecrive behavior. (6th ed.) Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman. EYSENCK, H. J. (1983) Stress, disease and ersonality: the "innoculation effects." In C. L. Cooper (Ed.), Stress research. New ~ o r R Wiley. : Pp. 121-146. FORBES,R. (1979) Life stress. Garden City, NY Doubleday. MCWILLUUVIS, J. M., & SCHNORR, J. K. (1986) Tennessee Stress Scale-L: Work-related Stress Inventory for Professionals. (Unpublished scale, Department of Psychology, Arizona State College, Flagstaff, AZ) ROSENMAN, R. H., & CHESNEY,M. A. (1982) Stress, Type A behavior, and coronary disease. In L. Goldberger & S. Bresner (Eds.), Handbook of stress: theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press. Pp. 547-565. SCHNORR, J., & MCWILLIAMS,M. J. (1987) Assessing stress levels of professionals. Paper presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association Meeting, Chicago, IL. SCHNORR, J., & M C W I L U ~ MM. S , J. (1988) Evaluation of stress levels of professionals. Paper presented ar Wcstern Psychological Association Meeting, San Francisco, CA. SELYE,H. (1976) The stress of life (2nd ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill. SELYE,H. (1983) The stress concept: past, present and future. In C. L. Cooper (Ed.), Stress research. New York: Wiley. Pp. 1-20.
Accepted November 2, 1990.
O Psychological Reports 1990
STRESS AS PERCEIVED BY PROFESSIONALS ' BERNADETTE M. GADZELLA, DEAN W. GINTHER, MARYJANE TOMCALA, AND G E O R G E W. BRYANT East Texas State Uniuersiiy Summary.-This study investigated differences in stress by sex, levels, age, and job classifications as perceived by 173 professionals. Subjects responded to the Tennessee Stress Scale-L questionnaire which provides measures for the three subscales (Stress Producers, Coping Mechanisms, and Stress Symptoms) and Total Stress. Significant ddferences were found between sexes and among stress levels, age groups, and job classifications on various subscales and total stress measures.
Stress is defined as any demand that creates tension or threat and requires a change or an adaptation (Coleman, Morris, & Glaros, 1987). Many sources of stress arise from events in life. Selye (1976), in his General Adaptation Syndrome, provided an excellent description of environmental stress. People in various professions experience events, demands, and threats related to their jobs. Recently, much attention has been focused on how to improve one's lifestyle by reducing stressful events. Researchers (Eysenck, 1983; Rosenman & Chesne~, 1982; Schnorr & McWilliams, 1987, 1988; Selye, 1983) have studied the role of stress producers and the ways individuals handle stressful situations. Schnorr and McWilliams (1987, 1988) reported stressors experienced in administrative and professional roles. They analyzed responses to a work-related stress questionnaire for 800 subjects. Significant differences were found on a stress scale (a) between sexes on stress producers and stress symptoms, respectively, (b) among regions of the country, with the western region reporting lower scores than the eastern region, and (c) among various professionals on a number of demographic variables. The aim of the present study was to explore stresses experienced by professionals in the southwestern USA. Specifically, the focus was to assess whether there were significant differences (a) among professionals' perceived stress levels, (b) between men and women, (c) among age groups, and (d) among types of jobs. The predictions were that there would be significant differences on some stress measures for each of the possible comparisons.
METHOD Subjects were 173 individuals, employed in various jobs in northeastern
'Request reprints from B. M. Gadzella, Department of Psychology and Special Education, East Texas Stare University, Commerce, Texas 75428.
980
B. M. GADZELLA. E T A L .
Texas, who responded to a survey questionnaire on stress. In this group were 57 men and 116 women. Subjects who reported their ages were assigned into one of the three age groups: 19-30 yr., had 44 subjects; 31-40 yr., had 57 subjects; and 41-63 yr., had 58 subjects. Fourteen individuals did not indicate their ages. Subjects reported their perceived stress as mild, moderate, or severe. There were 34 individuals with mild stress, 109 with moderate, and 30 with severe stress. Subjects described their jobs as staff, midlevel managers, or executives. There were 113 staff, 44 midlevel managers, and 12 executives. Four individuals did not report job classifications. The Tennessee Stress Scale-L, a Work-related Stress Inventory for Professionals (McWilliams & Schnorr, 1986) was the instrument given. This is a 60-item, self-report instrument concerning stress on a job. Responses to each item in the questionnaire are reported on a Likert scale in which 1 = never, 2 = seldom, 3 = occasionally, 4 = often, and 5 = most of the time. The total scores range from 60 to 300. A score of 60 indicates a minimum level, and a score of 300 a maximum level of stress. A total score is the sum of three subscale scores: (a) Stress Producers, (b) Coping Mechanisms, and (c) Stress Symptoms. Each subscale has 20 items. Subjects were given the questionnaire and asked to return it as soon as possible. Using some of the demographic data (stress levels, sex, age groups, and job classifications) one- and two-way analyses of variance were applied to analyze the subscale and the total scores of the Tennessee Stress Scale-L. The statistical software used to analyze the data was Number Cruncher Statistical Systems (NCSS), Version 5.02 (available from Pacific Ease Company, Santa Monica, CA 90405).
RESULTS There were no significant interactions for the groups on any of the variables on the scales studied. The means, standard deviations, and F ratios for the Tennessee Stress Scale-L scores for the three levels of stress are summarized in Table 1. The results showed, as expected, significant differences among the three levels on all the subscales and on total scores; see Table 1. Duncan's range test showed significant differences ( p < .05) between all paired groups on all subscales and on total scores for the three levels of stress. Simply stated, subjects identified their stress accurately, that is, subjects with moderate stress reported higher scores than subjects with mild stress. Subjects with severe stress reported higher scores than subjects with moderate stress. In Table 2, the means, standard deviations, and F ratios on stress scores for men and women are presented. The women reported higher mean scores than men on all scales. But, their scores were significantly higher on Stress Symptoms (F,,,,, = 5.46, p < ,041 and Total Stress scores ( F,,,,, = 4.20, p < .04). The means, standard deviations, and F ratios on stress scores for the age
98 1
STRESS PERCEIVED BY PROFESSIONALS TABLE 1 MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, AND F RAnos FOR SUBSCALES AND TOTALSCORES OF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFORTHREELEVELSOF STRESS: MILD (n = 34), MODERATE (n = 109), AND SEVERE(n = 30) Scores
Stress
Stress Producers
Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe
Coping Mechanisms
Stress Symptoms
Total Stress
M
SD
F,
!To
groups are summarized in Table 3. There was a significant difference (F,,,,, = 4.84, p < .02) among the age groups on Stress Producers subscale. Duncan's range test showed a significant difference between the groups 41-63 yr. TABLE 2 MEANS,STAWDARD DEVIATIONS, A N D F RATIOS FOR SUBSCALES AND TOTALSCORESOF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFOR ~IE (n =N 57), AND WOMEN(n = 116) Scores
Sex
Stress Producers
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women
Coping Mechanisms Stress Symptoms Total Stress
M
SD
F,.,,,
and 31-40 yr., with the latter reporting higher scores. A significant difference (F,,,,,= 3.85, p < .02) was noted among the groups on the Total score. Duncan's range test showed significant differences between the groups 41-63 yr, and 19-30 yr. and 31-40 yr., respectively, with the latter groups in each case reporting higher scores. Simply stated, the two younger age groups reported higher over-all stress scores than the oldest group. I n Table 4, the means, standard deviations, and F ratios on stress scores for the three types of jobs are presented. There was a significant difference
982
B. M. GADZELLA, ET AL. TABLE 3 AND F RATIOSFOR SUBSCALES A N D TOTALSCORES MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, OF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFORTHREEAGEGROUPS: 19-30 YR. (n = 44), 31-40 YR. ( n = 57), A N D 41-63 YR. (n = 58) Scores Stress Producers
Coping Mechanisms
Stress Symptoms
Total Stress
Age Group 19-30 31-40 41-63 19-30 31-40 41-63 19-30 31-40 41-63 19-30 31-40 41-63
yr. yr. yr. yr. yr. yr. yr yr. yr. yr. yr. vr.
M
SD
54.89
9.66
F2,,>6
4.84*
(F,,,,, = 3.86, p < . 0 3 ) among the three types of jobs on Stress Producers. Duncan's range test showed significant differences between the executive and staff and rnidlevel managers, respectively, with the latter groups reportTABLE 4 MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, A N D F RATIOS FOR SUESCALESAND TOTALSCORES OF TENNESSEE STRESSSCALE-LFORTHREEJOBD E S C ~ O R S : STAFF(n = 113), MIDLEVEL MANAGERS (n = 44), A N D EXECUTIVES (n = 12) Scores Stress Producers
Coping Mechanisms
Stress Symptoms
Total Stress
Job Descriptors
M
SD
F,,,,,
Staff Midlevel Managers Executives Staff Midlevel Managers Executives Staff Midlwel Managers Executives Staff Midlwel Managers Executives
54.40 54.77 45.67 54.81 54.14 47.83 45.52 41.16 39.75 154.68 150.07 133.25
11.29 8.84 10.37 9.40 10.48 8.54 14.12 11.22 13.38 27.35 23.47 27.12
3.86*
2.84
2.33
3.73*
ing higher scores. The results were similar for Total Stress scores (F,,,, = 3.73, p < .03) and Duncan range tests. Simply stated, the lower level jobs (staff and midlevel managers) reported more stress producers and over-all stress than the highest level jobs (executives).
STRESS PERCEIVED BY PROFESSIONALS
DISCUSSION The present study assessed whether differences were significant between sexes and among stress levels, age groups, and job classifications on stress as perceived by professionals. The findings concur with those of Schnorr and McWilliams (1987, 1988) that women report more stress than men. Perhaps women undertake more responsibilities in caring for the family in addition to their professional careers. The present study showed that subjects who reported having severe stress had higher stress scores than those who reported experiencing a moderate level. Individuals who reported having moderate stress reported higher scores than subjects who reported mild levels. Generally speaking, the individuals in the younger age groups reported higher stress scores than the oldest age groups. Could it mean that individuals in the oldest age group have learned to cope with stressful situations? For the job classifications, the staff and the midlevel managers reported greater stress than the executives. These differences among jobs may be due to executives delegating the tasks to be done and the staff and midlevel managers carrying them out. Present results showed that, for groups studied, stressful situations are significantly higher for some groups than for others. These findings might assist individuals in similar types of groups to understand better their situations and to modify their lifestyles by reducing different types of stress. Other studies and analyses, using different demographic data, might provide additional information on perceptions of stress by professionals. REFERENCES COLEMAN, J. C., MORRIS,C. G . , & GLAROS,A. G. (1987) Contemporary psychology and effecrive behavior. (6th ed.) Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman. EYSENCK, H. J. (1983) Stress, disease and ersonality: the "innoculation effects." In C. L. Cooper (Ed.), Stress research. New ~ o r R Wiley. : Pp. 121-146. FORBES,R. (1979) Life stress. Garden City, NY Doubleday. MCWILLUUVIS, J. M., & SCHNORR, J. K. (1986) Tennessee Stress Scale-L: Work-related Stress Inventory for Professionals. (Unpublished scale, Department of Psychology, Arizona State College, Flagstaff, AZ) ROSENMAN, R. H., & CHESNEY,M. A. (1982) Stress, Type A behavior, and coronary disease. In L. Goldberger & S. Bresner (Eds.), Handbook of stress: theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press. Pp. 547-565. SCHNORR, J., & MCWILLIAMS,M. J. (1987) Assessing stress levels of professionals. Paper presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association Meeting, Chicago, IL. SCHNORR, J., & M C W I L U ~ MM. S , J. (1988) Evaluation of stress levels of professionals. Paper presented ar Wcstern Psychological Association Meeting, San Francisco, CA. SELYE,H. (1976) The stress of life (2nd ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill. SELYE,H. (1983) The stress concept: past, present and future. In C. L. Cooper (Ed.), Stress research. New York: Wiley. Pp. 1-20.
Accepted November 2, 1990.
