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Influence of task demands on occupational stress: gender differences
Susana García Herrero1, Miguel Ángel Mariscal Saldaña, Javier García Rodriguez
1Escuela Politécnica Superior, University of Burgos, 09006 Burgos, Spain.
Journal of Safety Research
|December 5, 2012
Summary
Occupational stress significantly impacts workers and organizations. This study found that while women generally experience higher stress, gender differences in stress levels widen with demanding work tasks.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Occupational stress is a prevalent issue affecting employee well-being and organizational performance.
- Previous research on gender differences in occupational stress has yielded inconsistent findings.
- Studies have reported no significant differences or indicated higher stress levels in either men or women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender disparities in occupational stress.
- To analyze stress levels in relation to specific occupational demands.
- To examine how task demands influence stress differences between genders.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the VI National Survey on Working Conditions (NSWC) in Spain (2007).
- Sample comprised 11,054 individuals (5,917 men, 5,137 women).
- Employed a probabilistic model using Bayesian networks to analyze task-related variables and stress.
Main Results:
- Identified task demands as significant contributors to increased stress levels.
- Observed that women reported higher initial stress levels compared to men.
- Found that stress differences between genders tend to amplify under specific task demands.
Conclusions:
- Task assignment in high-stress environments should consider workers' gender.
- Organizations must acknowledge and address gender-specific stress responses.
- Implementing gender-sensitive strategies can mitigate occupational stress impacts.
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