mm bagali...... mba...... research......management......hrm......hrd............ Research paper.... PhD.... Research..... Papers.....Bagali paper 2

Asia Pacific Journal of Research Vol: I Issue XIV, June 2014
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Page | 124
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
Role Conflict
Unreasonable group and political
pressure
Pearson Correlation .295*
Responsibility for persons
Under participation
Powerlessness
Poor peer relations
Pearson Correlation -.251*
Intrinsic impoverishment
Low status
Strenuous working conditions
Unprofitable
Occupational Stress Index
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
Occupational Stress Index: Thus OSI has a correlation coefficient is 0.075 with rational coping strategy
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
N 50
Role Ambiguity
Role Conflict
Unreasonable group and
political pressure
Under participation
Powerlessness
Poor peer relations
Low status
Strenuous working
conditions
Unprofitable

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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
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
N 50
Role Ambiguity
Role Conflict
political pressure
Under participation
Powerlessness
Poor peer relations
Low status
Unprofitable

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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:
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
Role Ambiguity
Role Conflict Pearson Correlation .196

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Unreasonable group and political
pressure
Under participation
Pearson Correlation .477**
Powerlessness
Poor peer relations
Low status
Unprofitable
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
Dimensions
Coping Style
Role Overload
N 50
Role Ambiguity
Role Conflict
political pressure
Under participation
Powerlessness
Poor peer relations

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Low status
Strenuous working
conditions
Unprofitable
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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Page | 144
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.
References:
1. Aditi.N and Kumari.B.,(2005), Impact of personality patterns and employment status on
psychological stress tolerance of women in Kerala, Indian Psy.Rev., Vol.64 No.2, pp 103-108
2. Aminabhavi V.A, and Triveni.S (2000), Variables causing occupational stress on the nationalized
and non-nationalized bank employees, J.Com, Gui. Res., Vol.17 No.1, pp 20-29
3. Aujla.P., Harshpinder, Sandhu P, and Gill.R.(2004), Stress management techniques used by
working women and non working women of Ludhiana city. Indian Journal.Soc.Res., Vol 45.No.1,
pp 47
4. Chand (2006), Psychological factors in the development of work stress, J.Com, Gui. Res., vol.23
No.2, pp 178-186
5. Gaur and Dhawan (2000), Work related stressors and adaptation pattern among women
professionsls. Psy.Stu, Vol.45, No.1, pp 58-63
6. Harshpinder and Aujla (2001), Physical Stress Management among women, Psy. Stu, Vol.46,
No.1, pp 69-71
7. Hasnain.N.Z, M.G.Shahanawaz, and V.Shukla (2001), Role stress and coping strategies in
different occupational groups. I.P.R. Special Millennium Issue, 55&54, pp 53-59
8. Maria Parkinson (2010), Work place stress – Factors that contribute to work place stress, Enzime
Articles
9. Marilda E.Novaes Lipp (2009), Stress and Quality of Life of Senior Brazilian Police Officers, The
Spanish Journal of Psychology, Vol.12, no.2, pp 593-603
10. Mishra and Dixit (1995), Job stress, coping and burn out in medical professionals. J.Com. Gui.
Res. Vol 12. No.3, pp 183-192

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11. National Police Suicide Foundation: Melanie Hamilton (2003) Cop Killer: More Law Enforcement
Officers Are Slain by Their Own Hands Than Any Other Cause, Police: The Law Enforcement
Magazine Volume:27 Issue:5 pp 18-21
12. Pareek (1997), Training Instruments for Human Resource Development, New Delhi: Tata McGraw
Hill
13. Peterson D (1995), Organizational Behaviour Issues for Managers, Paper in IIM Ahmedabad
14. Randeep and Ravindran (2005), Organizational stress and coping as a function of cognitive style,
Journal of Psychology Research, Vol.49, No.1, pp 14-17
15. Right to Information Act (2005), Office of the Director and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka
State, Bangalore, Police Department Manual
16. Roger D, Jarvis G, Najarian.B (1993), Detached and coping: the construction and validation of a
new scale for measuring coping strategies. Personality and Individual differences, Vol.15, pp 619-
626
17. Sikthingnanavel.D (2006), Effect of select yogic practices on stress of working women,
J.Com.Gui.Res. Vol.23, No.3, pp 343-351
18. Upamanyu (1997), Stress management in educated women. Indian Journal of Social Research,
Vol.38, No.3, pp 185-189.

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