Job Stress, Psychological Empowerment, and Job Satisfaction Among The IT Employees in Coimbatore
Job Stress, Psychological Empowerment, and Job Satisfaction Among The IT Employees in Coimbatore
Int ern a tio na l Jo u rna l of Applied R esea rch 201 5; 1(8): 126 -13 1
Keywords: Competence, Job satisfaction, Job stress, Psychological empowerment, and Self-
determination
Introduction
"An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire,
and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational
success.”
- Stephen Covey
Human resource is the most valuable asset of an organization. The employees are the
repository of knowledge, skills and abilities that can’t be imitated by the competitors. But in
general, these Human Resources are the underutilized resource of an organization. And that’s
the main reason behind which all organizations like to empower the employees. But
employees often are afraid of taking this responsibility. Empowerment gives the employees a
degree of responsibility and authority. Empowerment encourages the employees to utilize
their skills, abilities and creativity by accepting accountability for their work. Empowerment
includes supervisors and employees working together to establish clear goals and
expectations within agreed-upon boundaries.
There is a lot of empirical support stating the relationship between employee empowerment
and work-related outcomes. (Liden et al., 2000; Sparrowe, R.T 1994 [14]; Spreitzer, G.M
1995 [17]; Spreitzer et al., 1997 [16]). The most related outcomes of employee empowerment
are job satisfaction and job stress. Empowerment was expected to have both direct and
indirect effects on satisfaction. Empowered employees should report greater job satisfaction
than employees who were not empowered since they would have access to necessary
resources and support to accomplish their work. In this study the author tried to identify the
Correspondence: relationship psychological empowerment of employees which increase job satisfaction and
Deepa. J reduce job stress.
Assistant Professor,
Stress arises when individuals perceive that they cannot adequately cope with the demands
PSGR Krishnammal College
for Women, Coimbatore – being made on them or with threats to their wellbeing (Lazarus, 1966). Job stress is a
641004, condition arising from the interaction of people and their jobs and characterized by changes
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within people that force them to deviate from their normal when both competence and impact are high or low but has a
functioning (Beehr and Newman, 1997). There are three strong positive effect when one of the two dimensions is low
categories of potential stressors: environmental, and the other is high. Impact has no effect on job satisfaction
organizational, and individual. Environmental factors include when choice and competence are both high and both low.
economic uncertainty, political uncertainty, and The effect of impact is positive only when one of the two
technological uncertainty. Organizational factors include task dimensions is high and the other is low. In addition, high
demands, role demands, interpersonal demands, levels of choice and competence reinforce the positive effect
organizational structure, organizational leadership, and of meaning on job satisfaction.
organization’s life stage. Individual factors include family Abd. Ghani1 et al., (2009), examined the relationship
problems, economic problems and personality. between psychological empowerment and innovative
Psychological Empowerment is the experience of employees behaviour as well as the impact of psychological
on empowerment at work. This empowerment focuses on the empowerment on the behavioral outcome. This study was
beliefs that employees have about their role in relation to the conducted with a sample of 312 lecturers from 25 private
organization. Psychological empowerment had its roots in higher education institutions in three states in Malaysia. The
early work on employee alienation and quality of work life. results indicated that psychological empowerment had
Psychological empowerment has four components: meaning, significant relationship with innovative behaviour and also
competence, self-determination and impact. (Spreitzer, G.M found to be a significant predictor of innovative behavior.
1995) [17].
Job satisfaction is defined as the feelings a person has about Objective of the Study
her or his job (Balzer, et al., 1997; Spector, P.E 1997) [8, 15]. The present study was aimed at studying the relationship
Job satisfaction is the degree to which an individual feels between job stress, psychological empowerment and job
positively or negatively about various aspects of the job satisfaction among the employees of IT industry.
(Schermerhorn, J.R 1996) [12]. It describes the comfortable
zone of an individual is with his or her job. The happier Research Methodology
people are within their job, the more satisfied they are said to A convenience sample consisting of sixty four employees
be. According to Loscocco, K.A and Roschelle, A.R (1991), working in IT industry participated in the study.
the assumption of the definition is that people can balance Questionnaires were administered the relationship between
their specific satisfactions and dissatisfactions to arrive at a job stress, psychological empowerment and job satisfaction
general degree of satisfaction with their job. among the employees. The Psychological Empowerment
Questionnaire (PEQ) (Spreitzer, 1995) [17] was used in this
Literature Review study. The scale contains three items for each of the four
Lynn Holdsworth and Susan Cartwright (2003) explored the sub-dimensions of psychological empowerment. The
relationship between stress, satisfaction and the four respondents indicated the extent to which they agreed with
dimensions of psychological empowerment (meaning, each statement on a five-point scale, ranging from 1
impact, self-determination and competence) within a call (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). A higher score
centre. The occupational stress indicator and Spreitzer’s means a higher degree of psychological empowerment.
empowerment measure were used to collect data from a Occupational Stress Index developed by Srivastava and
North West (UK) call centre. The study found the call centre Singh (1981) was used to assess the level of stress. The scale
agents were more stressed, less satisfied and reported poorer contains 15 items on a five-point scale. Minnesota
mental and physical health than the general working satisfaction Questionnaire (short version) was used to assess
population. In addition the sample perceived themselves as job satisfaction. The collected data was analyzed with mean,
less empowered than other workers in a traditional office standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and
environment. regression.
Wang, Guangping and. Lee, Peggy D (2009) investigated the
interactive effects of the psychological empowerment Results and Discussion
dimensions on job satisfaction. Using data collected from This section presents the analysis of the data collected from
employees of multiple organizations, the authors find the respondents. Table 1 provides the demographic
intriguing three-way interactions among the dimensions. characteristics of the respondents.
Choice has a weak but negative effect on job satisfaction
Among the 64 respondents, 32 (50%) belong to less than 30 A high level of stress (Mean=52.57), and low levels of
years age group; 32 (50%) belong to above 30 years of age psychological empowerment (Mean=46.29), and job
group; 36 (56.2%) are male; 36 (56.2%) are post graduates; satisfaction (Mean=64.29) were observed among the
36 (56.2%) belong to the 5-10 years of experience group; 38 respondents of UG group. A low level of stress
(59.4%) are married; and 34 (53.1%) belong to 20000 -30000 (Mean=47.72), and high levels of psychological
of income group. empowerment (Mean=47.28) and job satisfaction
(Mean=68.28) were seen among the respondents of PG
Table 2: Showing the Mean and Standard Deviation of research group.
variables in different age groups
Age Stress PE Job satisfaction Table 5: Showing the Mean and Standard Deviation of research
Mean 52.31 44.44 64.19 variables in different experience groups
Less than
N 32 32 32 Experience Stress PE Job satisfaction
30
Std. Deviation 5.251 5.180 6.635 Mean 52.45 45.36 65.45
Mean 47.38 49.25 68.88 Below
N 22 22 22
Above 30 N 32 32 32 5 years
Std. Deviation 5.990 5.794 6.653
Std. Deviation 6.632 5.685 8.047
Mean 49.61 46.06 64.83
Mean 49.84 46.84 66.53
Total N 64 64 64 5-10 years N 36 36 36
Std. Deviation 6.435 5.915 7.688 Std. Deviation 6.058 4.478 5.283
Mean 41.67 57.00 80.67
Above
A high level of stress (Mean=52.31), and low levels of N 6 6 6
10 years
psychological empowerment (Mean=44.44), and job Std. Deviation 1.862 4.648 9.893
satisfaction (Mean=64.19) were observed among the Mean 49.84 46.84 66.53
respondents of less than 30 age group. A low level of stress Total N 64 64 64
(Mean=47.38), and a high level of psychological
Std. Deviation 6.435 5.915 7.688
empowerment (Mean=49.25), and high level of job
satisfaction (Mean=68.88) were seen among the respondents
of above 30 age group. A high level of stress (Mean=52.45), and a low level of
psychological empowerment (Mean=45.36) were observed
Table 3: Showing the Mean and Standard Deviation of research among the respondents of below 5 years experience group. A
variables in different gender groups low level of stress (Mean=49.61), and high levels of
psychological empowerment (Mean=57.00), and job
Gender Stress PE Job satisfaction
satisfaction (Mean=80.67) were seen among the respondents
Mean 51.50 47.39 66.17
of above 10 years of experience group.
Male N 36 36 36
Std. Deviation 7.061 6.077 6.514
Table 6: Showing the Mean and Standard Deviation of research
Mean 47.71 46.14 67.00
variables in different income groups
Female N 28 28 28
Std. Deviation 4.860 5.733 9.084 Income Stress PE Job satisfaction
Mean 49.84 46.84 66.53 Mean 55.00 52.00 69.00
Total N 64 64 64 Less than
N 8 8 8
Std. Deviation 6.435 5.915 7.688 20000
Std. Deviation 7.483 2.138 .000
High levels of stress (Mean=51.50) and psychological Mean 50.18 46.47 66.35
empowerment (Mean=47.39), and a low level of job 20000-30000 N 34 34 34
satisfaction (Mean=66.17) were observed among the male Std. Deviation 6.191 6.964 8.556
respondents. Low levels of stress (Mean=47.71) and Mean 47.45 45.55 65.91
psychological empowerment (Mean=46.14), and high level Above
N 22 22 22
of job satisfaction (Mean=67.00) were seen among the 30000
Std. Deviation 5.387 3.888 7.715
female respondents. Mean 49.84 46.84 66.53
Table 4: Showing the Mean and Standard Deviation of research Total N 64 64 64
variables in different education groups Std. Deviation 6.435 5.915 7.688
Education Stress PE Job satisfaction
Mean 52.57 46.29 64.29 High levels of stress (Mean=55.00), psychological
UG N 28 28 28 empowerment (Mean=52.00) and job satisfaction
Std. Deviation 6.675 5.583 5.676 (Mean=69.00) were observed among the respondents of less
Mean 47.72 47.28 68.28 than 20000 income group. Low levels of stress
PG N 36 36 36 (Mean=47.45), psychological empowerment (Mean=45.55),
Std. Deviation 5.439 6.204 8.624 and job satisfaction (Mean=65.91) were observed among the
Mean 49.84 46.84 66.53 respondents of above 30000 income group.
Total N 64 64 64
Std. Deviation 6.435 5.915 7.688
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Table 7: Results of t- test for equality of means among different age groups.
t-test for Equality of Means
95% Confidence Interval
Std. Error of the Difference
t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference
Difference
Lower Upper
Equal variances
3.302 62 .002 4.938 1.495 1.948 7.927
assumed
Stress
Equal variances
3.302 58.904 .002 4.938 1.495 1.945 7.930
not assumed
Equal variances
-3.539 62 .001 -4.812 1.360 -7.530 -2.095
assumed
PE
Equal variances
-3.539 61.471 .001 -4.812 1.360 -7.531 -2.094
not assumed
Equal variances
-2.542 62 .014 -4.688 1.844 -8.373 -1.002
assumed
Job satisfaction
Equal variances
-2.542 59.828 .014 -4.688 1.844 -8.376 -.999
not assumed
Results of the t-test revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in stress (t=3.302 & p<.01), psychological empowerment
(t=3.539 & p<.01) and, job satisfaction (t=2.542 & p<.05) among the respondents of different age groups.
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Table 10: Showing the results of ANOVA test of research variables and experience.
Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
Between Groups 553.094 2 276.547 8.208 .001
Stress Within Groups 2055.343 61 33.694
Total 2608.438 63
Between Groups 689.458 2 344.729 13.880 .000
PE Within Groups 1514.980 61 24.836
Total 2204.438 63
Between Groups 1328.150 2 664.075 16.908 .000
Job
Within Groups 2395.788 61 39.275
Satisfaction
Total 3723.938 63
Results indicated that there was a significant difference in stress (F=8.208 & p<.01), psychological empowerment
(F=13.880 & p<.01), and job satisfaction (F=16.908 & p<.01) among the respondents of different experience groups
Table 11: Showing the results of ANOVA test of research variables and Income.
Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
Stress Between Groups 342.042 2 171.021 4.603 .014
Within Groups 2266.396 61 37.154
Total 2608.438 63
PE Between Groups 254.512 2 127.256 3.981 .024
Within Groups 1949.925 61 31.966
Total 2204.438 63
Job Between Groups 58.355 2 29.177 .486 .618
Satisfaction Within Groups 3665.583 61 60.092
Total 3723.937 63
Results indicated that there was a significant difference in stress (F=4.603 & p<.01), and psychological
empowerment (F=3.981 & p<.05) among the respondents of different experience groups.
ANOVAb
Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
Regression 952.854 1 952.854 21.319 .000a
1 Residual 2771.084 62 44.695
Total 3723.938 63
Coefficientsa
Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig.
B Std. Error Beta
1 (Constant) 35.734 6.722 5.316 .000
PE .657 .142 .506 4.617 .000
a. Predictors: (Constant), Psychological Empowerment
b. Dependent Variable: job satisfaction
Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the job stress, psychological empowerment and job satisfaction
relationship between psychological empowerment and job among the employees. The collected data was analyzed with
satisfaction. F-Test was statistically significant, which means mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and
that the model was statistically significant. The R-Squared is regression. Results revealed that there was a statistically
0.256 which means that approximately 25% of the variance significant difference in stress, psychological empowerment,
of job satisfaction was explained by the predictor variable, and job satisfaction among the respondents of different age
that is, psychological empowerment. groups. Results indicated that there was a significant
difference in stress, psychological empowerment, and job
Conclusion satisfaction among the respondents of different experience
Psychological empowerment is a multi-faceted construct groups and also among the different income groups.
reflecting the different dimensions of being psychologically Approximately twenty five per cent of the variance of job
enabled. The present study was aimed at studying the satisfaction was explained by the psychological
relationship between job stress, psychological empowerment empowerment.
and job satisfaction among the employees of IT industry. A
convenience sample consisting of sixty four employees References
working in IT industry participated in the study. 1. Abd. Ghani et al., The Impact of Psychological
Questionnaires were administered the relationship between Empowerment on Lecturers’ Innovative Behaviour in
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