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Asia Pacific Journal of Research Vol: I Issue XIV, June 2014

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A STUDY ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OCCUPATION STRESS INDEX DIMENSIONS

AND COPING STYLES: AN EMPIRICAL ENQUIRY INTO OFFICIALS OF POLICE

DEPARTMENT

Smt.Rashmi Ram Hunnur, Research Scholar, Jain University, Bangalore & Working as Asst.Professor,

Department of Management Studies, Basaveshwar Engineering College, Bagalkot.

Dr.M M Bagali, Head, Research in Management, Jain University, Bangalore.

ABSTRACT

The police department is not an exception to the job stress phase. Inherently, certain research questions

arise. For instance, “What causes job stress among police department employees?”, “What are the

present coping strategies the employees adopt in police department?”, etc. Number of the years spent

with an organization, emotional reactions and coping skills of employees, relationships at work with

superiors, colleagues, and subordinates, unreasonable group and political pressure, role overload, role

conflict, powerlessness, under participation, intrinsic impoverishment, role ambiguity, poor peer

relations, low status etc., are the key variables leading to stress. Infact, the present study will help to

develop more appropriate strategies to cope with workplace stress and that these could be incorporated

into a more fully integrated set of human resource policies for better performance of police department

in the study region.

Keywords: Rational, Detached, Avoidance, Emotional Coping

Introduction:

The word stress gets its name from the Latin word „stringere‟ meaning to draw tight. In the 15th

century,

the term was associated with troubles or pain. A century later, the meaning shifted to encompass burden,

force or pressure, especially on a person‟s body or soul. In the next century, stress became synonymous

with hardship, straits, adversity or affliction. During the 18th

and 19th

centuries, it meant, “force, pressure,

strain or strong effort”.

Stress has been the subject of many definition and theory. The interactionist model of stress coined by

Lazarus & Folkman (1984) was the pioneer among them. They identify three key components in the

process:


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- The situation and demands

- Our subjective appraisal of the situation

- Our perceived resources for meeting the demands

These demands or situations may be related to financial problems, arguments, changes in school/work

circumstances, or any other changes. These are events, hassles or changes that occur in our external

environment triggering physical or psychological reactions. They are sometimes referred to as stressors.

Appraisal of the situation refers to how we interpret the situation or demand. For a given event, while one

person might see it as stressful, another person may relish the challenge. Resources refer to our ability to

cope with the demand or stressor to deal with such possible or real problems. Again, in response to

another event, Person A and Person B, may perceive it as stressful. While Person A believes she has the

resources to cope, Person B might be totally lost, and thus respond differently. While students may not be

able to control a few of the demands placed upon them, they can adapt the resources at their disposal by

widening their repertoire of coping strategies.

Stress is our body's way of responding to additional demands. It can be caused by both good and bad

experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies respond by

releasing chemicals into the blood stream. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which

might be a good thing if physical danger is a possibility. This can, however, be a negative trigger, if their

stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet to release this additional energy and

strength.

Coping Strategies: The word coping has been used mainly with two meaning- ways of dealing stress and

the effort to master harmful conditions, heat or challenge (Pareek,1997). Successful individuals

demonstrate exceptionally effective interpersonal skills. Above and beyond their technical expertise, they

are adept at positively influencing other people. In the work place this means understanding the

underlying motivations of others, their thoughts and feelings, communicating effectively about these,

which includes giving and receiving the effective feed back and enrolling people in doing what needs to

be done with minimal stress, conflict and resistance.

Work Stress in Police Department: In police department, the police have to work round the clock to keep

public safe. Throughout the day, they are on duty without breaks. This translates into less quality time

spent with their family members, leading to lack of concentration on their duty because of frustration.

Later on, this frustration manifests into depression and they will lose interest in their job. If we keenly

observe, out of 100 police men, 80% of them will be having procrastinating attitude, impatience,

problems in interpersonal relations with co-workers and higher officers, irritability, etc, which are the

symptoms of Stress. And today, the suicide rates are on the rise in the department.

Police officers play a very significant role for maintaining law and order in the society despite all the

shortcomings and limitations in the Police Department especially with regard to the infrastructure

facilities, manpower and periodic training. Police Officers are supposed to implement all the criminal

laws for which they work round the clock and / or without any leave/break, which cause tremendous

mental pressure and physical exertion on them. As a result a few of them may have violent outbursts.


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According to National Police Suicide Foundation, every 22 hours, a police officer in America takes his or

her own life. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that police officers are not able to cope well with

job-related stress.

Literature Review:

A research titled “Workplace stress – Factors that contribute to workplace stress”, by Maria Parkinson

(2010), says that the workplace stress is becoming a major problem in today‟s society. A quarter of

employees view their job as major stress in their lives. Several factors contribute to workplace stress like

one factor is longer working hours. She also says that police officers reported more suicidal thoughts than

the general population. Policing is an inherently psychologically stressful job where officers face danger,

possible death, violence and very high demands.

A research on “Toxic Work”, by Barbara Reinhold (1996) says that stress increased a person‟s

susceptibility to illness such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, back pain, fatigue, and cancer.

A study is reported by Marilda E. Novaes Lipp (2009), Stress and Quality of Life of Senior Brazilian

Police Officers, Brazil. This study examined levels of occupational stress, quality of life, work-related

stressors, and coping strategies among senior police officers. This study was first to show a clear

association between high levels of emotional stress and poor quality of life among police officers. The

large number of stress symptoms and poor quality of life identified in the study indicates that there is a

need for preventive actions within the police force to motivate lifestyle changes, improve stress-

management skills, and promote an improved quality of life among high ranking police officers. The

high-ranking police officers who took part in the survey perceived their profession as being very

stressful. The significant association found between stress severity and poor quality of life was the

outcome of the study.

Peterson (1995) explored role conflict, role ambiguity and role overload as reported by industrial workers

and also found that managers are more stressed due to role overload from his study “organizational issues

for managers”.

Mishra and Dixit (1995) attempted to reveal the coping styles of 300 allopathic doctors. It was found

from the investigation that those who use effective coping (i.e. above average control style and below

average escape style) are less burn out than those who use ineffective coping (i.e. above average escape

style and below average control style). Roger et al.(1993) have further distinguished coping into four

distinct styles. Roger et al. (1993) and Elklit (1996) tested the emphirical validity of the Coping styles of

Questionnaire (CSQ) using factor analysis and found four clusters of items in their terminal solutions.

These item clusters represented rational, detached, avoidant and emotional coping styles. Upamanyu

(1997) explored the stress management techniques used by the educated working women. The sleep &

relaxation, exercise, time management, diet and yoga are the best way adopted to manage stress by

educated working women. Aminabhavi and Triveni (2000) in their study found that age, sex, coping

strategies of bank employees have not influenced their occupational stress.

Gaur and Dhawan (2000) examined that the relationship between work related stressors and adaptation

pattern among women professionals. A sample of 120 women professionals (30 teachers, 30 doctors, 30

bank officers and 30 bureaucrats) participated in the study. They showed a configuration of adaptation

pattern of active coping. The junior level job group or junior age group is significantly more active


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coping, greater planfulness and has more initiative as compared to middle and senior age group or level

of employment status. Harshpinder and Aujla (2001) investigated the different physical stress

management techniques utilized by women. Results showed that working women were making more use

of writing dairy, standard furniture and high fiber diet as compared to non working women. The two

groups did not differ significantly in the use of other techniques. Hasnain et al. (2001) on his study “role

stress and coping strategies in different occupational groups” assessed the coping strategies in three

different occupational groups (20 engineers, 20 managers and 20 teachers). No significant difference was

obtained among the coping strategies of the three groups. The two coping strategies used by these three

groups were extra-persistive and inter-persistive (approach coping). In essence, it can be said that in all

the three groups approach coping strategies were more frequently employed than avoidance strategies.

Aujla et al. (2004) investigated to analyze the different stress management techniques used by 75

working women and 75 non working women of Ludhiana city. Results showed that most of the

respondents in both the categories were employing various stress management techniques viz. relaxation,

music, prayer, recreation with family, planning etc.

Planning and relaxation were most preferred techniques among both the groups. Aditi and Kumari (2005)

found that the stress buffering effects of friendship and social support systems seem to be a significant

contributor to high levels of stress. Randeep and Ravindran (2005) attempted to explore the relationship

between coping strategies and coping styles among 30 marketing executives in two private sector mobile

phone companies. It was concluded that in the use of coping styles such as task strategies, logics, home

and work relationship, time management and involvement, executives differ considerably with respect to

their cognitive styles. Chand (2006) studied to examine the psychological factors in the development of

work stress. The respondents 150 junior management scale-1 officers in various banking institutions. The

findings of the study revealed that job related strain is positively related with escape coping and

negatively related with life event stress, control coping and symptom management coping.

Sikthingnanavel (2006) explored the effect of select yogic practices on stress of working women of 15

normal female volunteers. The suitable parameters were used prior to and after 10 days training

programme. The results show that there is a greater improvement in the reduction of stress in the

experimental group than the control group. All these studies revealed that coping strategies of individuals

has significant effect on mitigating stress. The above studies explored different stress management

techniques to reduce or minimize stress. Hence, the study is to find out the stress coping styles among

among the Police Sub-Inspectors / Asst.Sub-Inspectors in Police Department, and to know the relation

between occupational stress dimensions and coping strategies among the police personnel‟s. Infact in

response to the need to have such study due to increased stress related issues at police department, there

is a need to look at preventive and curative strategies, including the best practices in coping, per se.

Research Methodology

A Pilot Study

A pilot study is carried before the actual study to establish the feasibility of the study and to identify any

problems that may exist, amongst 20 respondents in Bagalkot district of Karnataka State. The newly

crafted district, with a population of around 18,90,826 (Censes 2011), was the study area.


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Sample for pilot study:

Table 1: Showing the sample for pilot survey

Occupation Bagalkot Amingad Ilkal Hungund Total

PSI/ASI 9 2 4 5 20

The respondents were asked to identify any possible problems that they may have had with the

questionnaire. After the discussion with these respondents and as well as discussion with the higher grade

police officers (Police Inspectors, Deputy Superintendent of Police), the questionnaire was amended and

the consequent concerns or additional contributions were taken into consideration.

The Research Sample

The study was conducted in 4 districts of Karnataka i.e., Bagalkot, Bijapur, Belgaum, and Dharwad. The

total strength of PSI and ASI in four districts is 506. Hence, the sample size is 50.

Table 2: Showing the research sample

Occupation Bagalkot Bijapur Belgaum Dharwad Total

PSI/ASI 23 10 8 9 50

Coping styles questionnaire was used to find out presently how the employees of police department are

coping from stress. Roger et.al (1993) have distinguished coping into four distinct styles. Roger et.al

(1993) & Elkit (1996) tested the empirical validity of the Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ) using factor

analysis and found four clusters of items in their terminal solutions. These item clusters represented

rational, detached, avoidant, & emotional styles.

Table No. 3: Showing Coping Style for PSI/ASI

Coping style

Median score

Rational coping 23.00

Avoidance coping 17.00

Detached coping 18.00

Emotional coping 13.50

Coping strategy style (CSS) 72.50


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Graph No.1: Showing coping style for PSI/ASI

Four coping strategies are analyzed among the respondents as mentioned in the table. It is found that

Rational coping strategy has the highest median score of 23 followed by Detached coping strategy with

median score of 18. Avoidance coping strategy has median 17 while emotional coping strategy has the

least median score of 13.50 and overall is 72.50

Hypothesis: The objective is to know the relation between occupational stress dimensions and coping

strategies among the PSI/ASI

Null Hypothesis: There is no relation between occupation stress dimensions and coping strategies such as

rational, avoidance, detached, and emotional coping strategy among the respondents.

Alternative Hypothesis: There is relation between occupation stress dimensions and Coping strategies

such as rational, avoidance, detached, and emotional coping strategy among the respondents.

Sub Hypothesis:

Occupation stress dimensions and Rational Coping

A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between occupation stress dimensions

and rational coping.

Ho: There is no significant relation that exists between occupation stress dimensions and rational coping.

Ha: There exists significant relation between occupation stress dimensions and rational coping.

Table No.4: showing relation between occupation stress dimensions and rational coping strategy

for PSI/ASI


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Occupation Stress Dimensions

Rational Coping Strategy

Role Overload Pearson Correlation .026

Sig. (1-tailed) .428 N 50

Role Ambiguity Pearson Correlation -.087

Sig. (1-tailed) .275

Role Conflict Pearson Correlation .000


Unreasonable group and political pressure

Pearson Correlation .295*


Responsibility for persons Pearson Correlation .172


Under participation Pearson Correlation .078


Powerlessness Pearson Correlation .046


Poor peer relations Pearson Correlation -.251

*


Intrinsic impoverishment Pearson Correlation .168


Low status Pearson Correlation -.135


Strenuous working conditions Pearson Correlation .094


Unprofitable Pearson Correlation .049


Occupational Stress Index Pearson Correlation .075


Graph No.2: showing relation between occupation stress dimensions and rational coping strategy

for I/ASI


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The correlation analysis signifies if there exists any correlation between Rational Coping strategy and the

OSI dimensions. The results are as follows:

Role Overload: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.026 with rational coping strategy which

indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.428 which is > 0.05 implies that the

relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Role Ambiguity: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.087 with rational coping strategy

which indicates an inverse relation of low degree. The significance value 0.275 which is > 0.05 implies

that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Role Conflict: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.000 with rational coping strategy which

indicates an almost no correlation. The significance value 0.500 which is > 0.05 implies that the relation

is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Unreasonable group and political pressure: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.295 with

rational coping strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.019

which is < 0.05 implies that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Responsibility for persons: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.172 with rational coping

strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.116 which is > 0.05

implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Under participation: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.078 with rational coping strategy

which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.295 which is > 0.05 implies


Powerlessness: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.046with rational coping strategy which



Poor peer relations: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.251 with rational coping strategy

which indicates a negative relation of low degree. The significance value 0.039 which is < 0.05 implies

that the relation significant. Thus, for this dimension the null hypothesis is rejected and alternative

hypothesis is accepted.

Intrinsic improvement: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.168 with rational coping strategy

which indicates positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.122 which is > 0.05 implies that

the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Low status: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.135 with rational coping strategy which

indicates a negative relation of low degree. The significance value 0.175 which is > 0.05 implies that the


Strenuous working conditions: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.094 with rational coping


implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted.


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Unprofitable: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.049 with rational coping strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.369 which is > 0.05 implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Occupational Stress Index: Thus OSI has a correlation coefficient is 0.075 with rational coping strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.303 which is > 0.05 implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted, which means that there is no significant relation between occupation stress dimensions and rational coping.

Occupation Stress dimensions and Avoidance Coping

A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between responses to occupation stress dimensions and avoidance coping.

Ho: There is no significant relation that exists between occupation stress dimensions and avoidance coping.

Ha: There exists significant relation between occupation stress dimensions and avoidance coping.

Table No.5: Showing the relation between occupation stress dimensions and avoidance coping

Occupation Stress Dimensions

Avoidance coping

strategy

Role Overload Pearson Correlation .105

Sig. (1-tailed) .235 N 50

Role Ambiguity Pearson Correlation .269

*


Role Conflict Pearson Correlation -.066


Unreasonable group and political pressure

Pearson Correlation .149








Poor peer relations Pearson Correlation .035



*


Low status Pearson Correlation .271

*


Strenuous working conditions



Unprofitable Pearson Correlation -.294

*





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Graph No.3: Showing the relation between occupation stress dimensions and avoidance coping

strategy

The correlation analysis signifies if there exists any correlation between Avoidance Coping strategy and

the OSI dimensions- The results are as follows:

Role Overload: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.105 with Avoidance coping strategy



Role Ambiguity: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.269 with Avoidance coping strategy

which indicates an inverse relation of low degree. The significance value 0.030 which is < 0.05 implies

that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis rejected and the alternative hypothesis is

accepted

Role Conflict: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.066 with Avoidance coping strategy

which indicates a negative correlation. The significance value 0.325 which is > 0.05 implies that the


Unreasonable group and political pressure: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.149 with

Avoidance coping strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value

0.151 which is > 0.05 implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Responsibility for persons: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.077 with Avoidance coping



Under participation: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.225 with Avoidance coping strategy




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Powerlessness: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.156 with Avoidance coping strategy



Poor peer relations: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.035 with Avoidance coping strategy

which indicates a negative relation of low degree. The significance value 0.405 which is > 0.05 implies

that the relation not significant. Thus, for this dimension the null hypothesis is accepted.

Intrinsic improvement: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.239 with Avoidance coping

strategy which indicates positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.047 which is < 0.05

implies that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis

is accepted.

Low status: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.271 with Avoidance coping strategy which

indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.028 which is < 0.05 implies that the

relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted.

Strenuous working conditions: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.128 with Avoidance

coping strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.188 which is >

0.05 implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted.

Unprofitable: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.294 with Avoidance coping strategy


that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is

accepted.

Occupational Stress Index: Thus OSI has a correlation coefficient is 0.201 with Avoidance coping


implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted, which means that there is

no significant relation between occupation stress dimensions and avoidance coping strategy.

Occupation Stress dimensions and Detached Coping

A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between responses to occupation stress

dimensions and detached coping strategy.

Ho: There is no significant relation that exists between Occupation Stress Dimensions and Detached

coping strategy.

Ha: There exists significant relation between Occupation Stress Dimensions and Detached coping

strategy.


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Table No.6: Showing the relation between occupation stress dimensions and detached coping for

PSI/ASI

Occupation Stress

Dimensions

Detached

coping

strategy

Role Overload

Pearson Correlation -.233


N 50

Role Ambiguity Pearson Correlation -.028


Role Conflict Pearson Correlation -.046


Unreasonable group and

political pressure













Low status Pearson Correlation -.031




Unprofitable Pearson Correlation .028


Occupational Stress Index Pearson Correlation -.032



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Graph No.4: Showing the relation between occupation stress dimensions and detached coping

strategy for PSI/ASI

The correlation analysis finds if there exists any correlation between Detached Coping strategy and the

OSI dimensions. The results are as follows:

Role Overload: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.233 for Detached Coping strategy


that the relation is not significant. Thus the null hypothesis is accepted

Role Ambiguity: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.028 for Detached Coping strategy

which indicates an inverse relation of low degree. The significance value is 0.424 which is > 0.05 implies

that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted.

Role Conflict: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.046 for Detached Coping strategy which

indicates a negative correlation. The significance value 0.374 which is > 0.05 implies that the relation is

not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Unreasonable group and political pressure: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.131 for

Detached Coping strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.181

which is > 0.05 implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted

Responsibility for persons: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.152 for Detached coping



Under participation: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.027 for Detached coping strategy



Powerlessness: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.065 for Detached coping strategy which




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Poor peer relations: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.054 for Detached coping strategy



Intrinsic improvement: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.062 for Detached coping

strategy which indicates positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.335 which is >0.05


Low status: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.031 for Detached coping strategy which



Strenuous working conditions: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.021 for Detached coping


implies that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted.

Unprofitability: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.028 for Detached coping strategy which


relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted.

Occupational Stress Index: the OSI has a correlation coefficient is -0.032 for Detached coping strategy


that the relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is accepted, which means that there is no

significant relation between the occupation stress dimensions and detached coping strategy.

Occupation Stress dimensions and Emotional Coping:

A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between responses to occupation stress

dimensions and emotional coping strategy.

Ho: There is no significant relation that exists between occupation stress dimensions and emotional

coping strategy.

Ha: There exists significant relation between occupation stress dimensions and emotional coping

strategy.

Table No. 7: Showing relation between occupation stress dimensions and emotional coping for

PSI/ASI

Occupation Stress Dimensions Emotional

coping

strategy

Role Overload



N 50





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Unreasonable group and political

pressure






**



**


Poor peer relations Pearson Correlation .140



**



**



**



*



**


Graph No.5: Showing relation between occupation stress dimensions and emotional coping for

PSI/ASI


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The correlation analysis finds if there exists any correlation between emotional coping and the OSI

dimensions. The results are as follows:

Role Overload: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.041 for Emotional Coping Strategy



Role Ambiguity: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 214 for Emotional Coping Strategy

which indicates an inverse relation of low degree. The significance value 0.067 which is > 0.05 implies


Role Conflict: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.196 for Emotional Coping Strategy which




Emotional Coping Strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value

0.022 which is < 0.05 implies that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the

alternative hypothesis is accepted.

Responsibility for persons: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.004 for Emotional Coping

Strategy which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.489 which is > 0.05


Under participation: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.477 for Emotional Coping Strategy

which indicates a positive relation. The significance value 0.000 which is < 0.05 implies that the relation

is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted.

Powerlessness: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.510 for Emotional Coping Strategy

which indicates a positive relation. The significance value 0.000 which is < 0.05 implies that the relation

is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted

Poor peer relations: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.140 for Emotional Coping Strategy



Intrinsic improvement: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.349 for Emotional Coping

Strategy which indicates positive relation. The significance value 0.006 which is < 0.05 implies that the


Low status: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.365 for Emotional Coping Strategy which

indicates a positive relation. The significance value 0.005 which is < 0.05 implies that the relation is

significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted.

Strenuous working conditions: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.387 for Emotional

Coping Strategy which indicates a positive relation. The significance value 0.003 which is < 0.05 implies


accepted.


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Unprofitability: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.295 for Emotional Coping Strategy



accepted.

Occupational Stress Index: the OSI has a correlation coefficient is 0.410 for Emotional Coping Strategy

which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.002 which is < 0.05 implies


accepted, which means that there exists a relation between the occupation stress dimensions and

emotional strategy.

Occupation stress dimensions and coping styles:

A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between responses to OSI dimensions

and coping strategy style.

Ho: There is no significant relation that exists between OSI dimensions and coping strategy style.

Ha: There exists significant relation between OSI dimensions and coping strategy style.

Table No. 8: Showing the relation between occupational stress index dimensions and coping styles

for PSI/ASI

Occupational Stress Index

Dimensions Coping Style

Role Overload

Pearson Correlation -.021


N 50





Unreasonable group and

political pressure






*



*





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*




Strenuous working

conditions






*


Graph No.6: showing the relation between OSI dimensions and CSS for PSI/ASI

The correlation analysis finds if there exists any correlation between Coping Strategy Style and the OSI

dimensions. The results are as follows:

Role Overload: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.021 for Coping Strategy Style which



Role Ambiguity: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.131 for Coping Strategy Style which



Role Conflict: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.034 for Coping Strategy Style which




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Coping Strategy Style which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.011

which is < 0.05 implies that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the

alternative hypothesis is accepted

Responsibility for persons: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.151 for Coping Strategy

Style which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.148 which is > 0.05


Under participation: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.299 for Coping Strategy Style

which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.017 which is < 0.05 implies


accepted.

Powerlessness: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.289 for Coping Strategy Style which


relation is not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted

Poor peer relations: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.054 for Coping Strategy Style


that the relation is not significant. Thus, for this dimension the null hypothesis is accepted.

Intrinsic improvement: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.305 for Coping Strategy Style

which indicates positive relation. The significance value 0.016 < 0.05 implies that the relation is

significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted.

Low status: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.168 for Coping Strategy Style which


relation is not significant. Thus, for this dimension the null hypothesis is accepted.

Strenuous working conditions: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is 0.236 for Coping Strategy

Style which indicates a positive relation of low degree. The significance value 0.049 which is < 0.05

implies that the relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis

is accepted.

Unprofitable: This dimension has a correlation coefficient is -0.185 for Coping Strategy Style which



Occupational Stress Index: the OSI has a correlation coefficient is 0.243 for Coping Strategy Style which


relation is significant. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted,

which means that there is a significant relation between the Occupation Stress Index (OSI) dimensions

and coping strategy style (CSS)

Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a significant relation between the Occupational Stress Index

(OSI) dimensions and the Coping Styles.


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Findings:

The results observed from the analysis have demonstrated that among the four coping strategies, it is

found that Rational coping strategy has the highest median score of 23 followed by Detached coping

strategy with median score 18. And further, Avoidance coping strategy has median 17 while emotional

coping strategy has the least median score of 13.50 and overall is 72.50. The majority of PSI/ASI‟s are

adopting emotional coping strategy. This might be the reason for frequent burnouts and violent outbursts

in police department. But still, as few of the respondents are following rational coping, we found in spite

of high stress in police department still the employees are carrying out their work effectively.

Rational Coping Strategy: A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between

responses to Stress causing dimensions and Rational Coping Strategy. The study revealed that there is no

such significant relation between stress causing dimensions and rational coping strategy. But Poor peer

relations is the only dimension where there exists a relation between stress causing dimensions and

rational coping strategy.

Avoidance Coping Strategy: A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between

stress causing dimensions & Avoidance coping strategy. The study revealed that there is no such

significant relation between stress causing dimensions and avoidance coping strategy. But Intrinsic

Impoverishment, low status, and unprofitability are the only dimension where there exists a relation

between stress causing dimensions and avoidance coping strategy.

Detached Coping Strategy: A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between the

responses to stress causing dimensions & Detached coping strategy. The study revealed that there is no

such significant relation between the responses to stress causing dimensions and detached coping

strategy.

Emotional Coping Strategy: A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between

stress causing dimensions & Emotional coping strategy. The study revealed that there is a significant

relation between the responses to stress causing dimensions and emotional coping strategy. But Role

overload, Role ambiguity, Role conflict, Responsibility for persons, Poor peer relations are the only

dimension where the relation between responses to stress causing dimensions and avoidance coping

strategy does not exist.

Coping Style: A correlation analysis is conducted to find if there is any relation between responses to

Occupation Stress Index (OSI) dimensions & Coping Style. The study revealed that there a significant

relation between stress causing dimensions and coping strategies. But, Role overload, Role ambiguity,

Role conflict, Responsibility for persons, Poor peer relations, and low status are the only dimension

where the relation between responses to stress causing dimensions and coping strategies does not exist.

Discussion and Conclusion:

The study revealed that there exist a relation between the occupational stress dimensions and the coping

styles among PSI/ASI‟s. The coping styles adopted by PSI/ASI‟s were emotional coping, followed by

avoidance coping, followed by rational coping style, and further followed by detached coping style. The

majority of PSI/ASI‟s are adopting emotional coping style. This might be the reason for frequent

burnouts and violent outbursts in police department. But still, as few of the respondents are following


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rational coping, we found in spite of high stress in police department still the employees are carrying out

their work effectively.

Recommendations:

The research for stress at work place are many, and the coping strategies also. Inspite of stress related

issues at workplace, each person has his/her own ways of coping, which supports or may be of less use to

face the stress related issues. Few tentative suggestions are put forth:

More focus should be given on rational coping style and accordingly trainings should be provided

based on coping styles.

Social Gathering

Every six to eight months, few of the activities like get together has to be arranged where the employees

can participate with their family members, which brings a kind of freshness in them and will be a good

technique for reducing stress.

Police Restructure on working hours

The major problems are with the Work overload. The police reforms should be made on the working

hours of the employees, and it should be followed properly. In the articles it‟s clear that most of the

violent outbursts are because of long working hours and not getting leaves as per the rules mentioned in

the Police manual. The major problem here is the shortage of employees in police department. The

population is increasing but the recruitments in police department is not as much as it is needed. All the

vacant places are to be filled so that the employees will not be pressurized to work more than their

capacity. Another option is, the system should be changed as it is for Maharashtra Police, day police

officers are different and night police officers are different. The officers who worked in day will not

come to night duty, visa versa. That kind of system should be brought in Karnataka State Police.

Restructure working conditions

Another major cause for high stress in police department is Strenuous working conditions. The reason

again here is the tense circumstances in their work, it might be because of long working hours, work

overload, or any communal conflicts in sensitive areas. In order to prevention as well as detection, crime

police stations should be separated from Law & Order police stations. To overcome from this separate

Police stations for Crime and separate Police stations for Law & Order has to be created, and different

appointments should be made for the same. In each place their should be two police stations, one is crime

police station which will be taking care of theft, decoity, robbery etc, and another one Law & Order

police stations who will be taking care of all the bandhubast duties, night rounds, communal issues etc.

The different supervisory officers should be appointed for the same. For crime officers separate training

programmes should be designed based on scientific investigation rather than old third degree method.

Different basic training programmes has to be designed based on the demands of the job so that they can

perform effectively.

Motivate for adopting change


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The employees found it‟s difficult to adopt new technologies in the department. This is mainly because of

the lack of education. Now, the person who is of age 56 or above will not feel comfortable to work with

computer which is very new to him. While selection process the technical aspects should also be

considered in the applicants. If any new techniques are implemented a proper training should be

provided, for the existing employees. Police Information Technology has to be implemented in entire

Karnataka State Police and Laptops has to be issued to all police station officers.

Restructure Salary Package

As the work is more in the department, the salary of the employees has to be raised as per their work. The

employees feel that their salary is very less compared to other sectors like education, transport, and

postal, where these people will be working maximum for 8 hrs with all the facilities like weekend

holidays, festival offs. But, the employees of police department are working long hours restless without

any holidays, but still they get less salary. The department head has to think on these aspects.

Coping by Yoga and Meditation

More scope should be given on the Yoga & meditation which are the strongest weapon for stress

reduction. Presently the Stress Management Training programmes are conducted in the department, but it

is only for the employees above Circle Inspectors and is conducted 2 years once. The stress management

training should be conducted often in police department for all level of employees.

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