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Individual differences and occupational stress perceived: a Croatian survey

Nina Pološki Vokić orcid.org/0000-0001-7600-7928 ; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
Ana Bogdanić ; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb

Abstract

Apart from elaborating the concept of occupational stress (through it’s definition, sources, consequences, ways
of dealing with it, and it’s relationship with individual differences), the research had two objectives: (1) to
measure occupational stress levels among different categories of employees working in Croatian enterprises,
and (2) to study and analyze stress in Croatia in relation to individual differences (gender, age, marital status,
parenthood, number of children, hierarchical level, department, and working hours).
The greatest level of stress perceive respondents who have three or more children, who are more than 50 year
old, and those employed in marketing, at middle levels or in procurement, while the lowest level of stress
perceive employees younger than 30 years of age, those employed in HR, finances and production, and parents
of one child. Concerning the relationship between individual differences and levels of stress experienced,
although the cross-sectional design of the study does not allow for causal interpretation of relationships found,
findings suggest that there is a connection between age, marital status, parenthood, number of children and
hierarchical level, and the way stress is perceived, while gender, department and working hours are not
connected to it.
The research integrated a broader set of antecedent variables which enable a better understanding of the
demographic and work factors that lead to occupational stress. That should subsequently help managers
understand a greater proportion of the variance of employees’ satisfaction, performance and turnover, and help
them better deal with it.

Keywords

occupational stress; sources of occupational stress; consequences of occupational stress; individual differences, Croatia

Hrčak ID:

137194

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/137194

Publication date:

23.5.2007.

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