This document discusses stress, what it is, and its effects. It defines stress as a normal reaction to events or thoughts that make one feel anxious or frustrated. Our thoughts about situations, not just the events themselves, determine whether we perceive something as stressful. Stress can be positive in small amounts by motivating us, but too much stress can harm our health. The document outlines common sources of stress including the environment, social roles, physiological factors, and thoughts. It also discusses signs of stress overload and various physical and mental effects stress can have on the body and brain.

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INTRODUCTION
Stress: What is it?
Although we all talk about stress, it often isn’t clear what stress is really about. Many people
consider stress to be something that happens to them, an event such as an injury or a
job loss. Others think that stress is what happens to our body, mind, and behavior in
response to an event (E.g. heart pounding, anxiety, or nail biting). While stress does
involve events and our response to then, these are not the most important factors. Our
thoughts about the situations in which we find ourselves are the critical factor.
When something happens to us, we automatically evaluate the situation mentally. We
decide if it is threatening to us, how we need to deal with the situation, and what skills we
can use. If we decide that the demands of the situation outweigh the skills we have, then
we label the situation as “stressful” and react with the classic “stress response.” If we
decide that our coping skills outweigh the demands of the situation, then we don’t see it
as “stressful.”
Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or
anxious. Everyone sees situations differently and has different coping skills. For this reason,
no two people will respond exactly the same way to a given situation.
Additionally, not all situations that are labeled “stressful” are negative. The birth of a child,
being promoted at work, or moving to a new home may not be perceived as threatening.
However, we may feel that situations are “stressful” because we don’t feel fully prepared to
deal with them.
Stress is a normal part of life. In small quantities, stress is good; it can motivate you and
help you become more productive. However, too much stress, or a strong response to
stress can be harmful. How we perceive a stress provoking event and how we react to it
determines its impact on our health. We may be motivated and invigorated by the events
in our lives, or we may see some as “stressful” and respond in a manner that may have a
negative effect on our physical, mental, and social well-being.
If we always respond in a negative way, our health and happiness may suffer. By understanding
ourselves and our reaction to stress-provoking situations, we can learn to handle
stress more effectively. In the most accurate meaning, stress management is not about
learning how to avoid or escape the pressures and turbulence of modern living; it is about
learning to appreciate how the body reacts to these pressures, and about learning how to
develop skills which enhance the body’s adjustment. To learn stress management is to
learn about the mind-body connection and to the degree to which we can control our
health in a positive sense.
Sources of Stress
We can experience stress from four basic sources:
The Environment – the environment can bombard you with intense and competing
demands to adjust. Examples of environmental stressors include weather, noise, crowding,
pollution, traffic, unsafe and substandard housing, and crime.
Social Stressors – we can experience multiple stressors arising from the demands of the

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different social roles we occupy, such as parent, spouse, caregiver, and employee. Some
examples of social stressors include deadlines, financial problems, job interviews, presentations,
disagreements, demands for your time and attention, loss of a loved one, divorce,
and co-parenting.
Physiological – Situations and circumstances affecting our body can be experienced as
physiological stressors. Examples of physiological stressors include rapid growth of adolescence,
menopause, illness, aging, giving birth, accidents, lack of exercise, poor nutrition,
and sleep disturbances.
Thoughts – Your brain interprets and perceives situations as stressful, difficult, painful, or
pleasant. Some situations in life are stress provoking, but it is our thoughts that determine
whether they are a problem for us.
Types of Stressors
Situations that are considered stress provoking are known as stressors. Stress is not always
a bad thing. Stress is simply the body’s response to changes that create taxing demands.
Many professionals suggest that there is a difference between what we perceive as positive
stress, and distress, which refers to negative stress. In daily life, we often use the term
“stress” to describe negative situations. This leads many people to believe that all stress is
bad for you, which is not true.
Positive stress has the following characteristics:
• Motivates, focuses energy
• Is short-term
• Is perceived as within our coping abilities
• Feels exciting
• Improves performance
In contrast, negative stress has the following characteristics:
• Causes anxiety or concern
• Can be short or long-term
• Is perceived as outside of our coping abilities
• Feels unpleasant
• Decreases performance
• Can lead to mental and physical problems
It is somewhat hard to categorize stressors into objective lists of those that cause positive
stress and those that cause negative stress, because different people will have different
perceptions and reactions to particular situations. However, by generalizing, we can compile
a list of stressors that are typically experienced as negative or positive to most people,
most of the time.
Examples of negative personal stressors can include:

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• The death of a partner
• Filing for divorce
• Losing contact with loved ones
• The death of a family member
• Hospitalization (oneself or a family member)
• Injury or illness (oneself or a family member)
• Being abused or neglected
• Separation from a spouse or committed relationship partner
• Conflict in interpersonal relationships
• Bankruptcy/money problems
• Unemployment
• Sleep problems
• Children’s problems at school
• Legal problems
• Inadequate or substandard housing
• Excessive job demands
• Job insecurity
• Conflicts with team mates and supervisors
• Lack of training necessary to do a job
• Making presentations in front of colleagues or clients
• Unproductive and time-consuming meetings
• Commuting and travel schedules
Examples of positive personal stressors might include:
• Receiving a promotion at work
• Starting a new job
• Marriage or commitment ceremony
• Buying a home
• Having a child
• Moving
• Taking or planning a vacation
• Holiday seasons
• Retiring
• Taking educational classes or learning a new hobby
Internal Sources of Stress and Anxiety
Stressors are not always limited to situations where some external situation is creating a problem.
Internal events such as feelings, thoughts, and habitual behaviors can also cause negative stress.
Common internal sources of distress include:
• Fears (e.g., fears of flying, heights, public speaking,chatting with strangers at a party)
• Repetitive thought patterns
• Worrying about future events (e.g., waiting for medical test results or job restructuring)

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• Unrealistic or perfectionist expectations
Habitual behavior patterns that can lead to stress include:
• Over scheduling
• Failing to be assertive
• Failing to set and maintain healthy boundaries
• Procrastination and/or failing to plan ahead
Cognitive Aspects of Stress and Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling that we commonly experience when faced with stressful life events.
Anxiety can be one of the most distressing emotions that people feel. It is sometimes
called “fear or nervousness”. Common reactions to anxiety include:
Physical Symptoms:
• Sweaty palms
• Muscle tension
• Racing heart
• Flushed cheeks
• Light headedness
Behaviors:
• Avoiding situations where experiencing anxiety might occur
• Leaving situations when feelings of anxiety begins to occur
• Trying to do things perfectly or trying to control events to prevent danger
Moods:
• Nervous
• Irritable
• Anxious
• Panicky
Thoughts:
• Overestimation of danger
• Underestimation of your ability to cope
• Underestimation of help available
• Worries and catastrophic thoughts
Stressors can contribute to our feelings of anxiety. Examples of stressors that contribute to
feelings of anxiety might include trauma (being abused, being in an accident, war); illness
or death, things we are taught (“snakes will bite you”); things we observe (an article in the
newspaper about a plane crash); and experiences that seem too much to handle (giving a speech,
job promotion or termination, having a baby). The thoughts that accompany anxiety involve the
perception that we are in danger or that we are threatened or vulnerable in some way. A threat of
danger can be physical, mental,or social. A physical threat occurs when you believe that you will
be physically hurt (e.g.,a snake bite, a heart attack, being hit). A social threat occurs when you
believe you will be rejected, humiliated, embarrassed, or put down. A mental threat occurs when

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something makes you worry that you are going crazy or losing your mind.The perception of the
threats varies from person to person. Some people, because of their life experiences, may feel
threatened very easily and will often feel anxious. Other people may feel a greater sense of safety
or security. Certain life experiences such as growing up in a chaotic home with volatile
surroundings may lead a person to conclude that the world and other people are dangerous.
The perception of danger and sense of vulnerability may have helped a person survive as a child.
Being able to recognize danger and its early warning signs are critical to one’s emotional
and physical survival. Some may have developed a very fine ability to spot and
respond to dangerous situations. As an adult, it may become important to evaluate whether or not
its possible that one is over-responding to danger and threat. Perhaps the people in their adult life
are not as threatening as the people in their childhood. One might consider whether or not their
resources and abilities to cope as an adult open new and creative ways of responding to
threat and anxiety.
Anxious Thoughts
Anxious thoughts are future oriented and often predict catastrophe. Anxious thoughts often
begin with, “What if…” and end with a disastrous outcome. Anxious thoughts frequently
include images of danger as well. For example, a man with a fear of public speaking may,
before a talk, think, “What if I stumble over my words? What if I forget my notes? What if
people think I’m a fool and don’t know what I am talking about?” He may have an image
of himself standing frozen in front of the crowd. These thoughts are all about the future
and predict a dire outcome.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress Overload
It is important to learn how to recognize when your stress levels are “out of control” or
having an adverse effect. The signs and symptoms of stress overload can be almost anything.
Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways, and everyone experiences
stress differently.
Three common ways that people respond when they are overwhelmed by stress are:
1. An angry or agitated stress response. You may feel heated, keyed-up, overly
emotional, and unable to sit still.
2. A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show
very little energy or emotion.
3. Both a tens and frozen stress response. You “freeze” under pressure and feel like
you can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you may feel
extremely agitated. The following lists some of the common warning signs and symptoms of
stress. The more signs and symptoms you notice in yourself, the closer you might be to feeling
stress overload.
Cognitive Symptoms:
• Memory problems
• Inability or difficulty concentrating
• Poor judgment
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious, racing, or ruminating thoughts
• Constant worrying

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Emotional Symptoms:
• Moodiness
• Irritability or short-tempered
• Agitation, inability to relax
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sense of loneliness or isolation
• Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms:
• Aches and pains, muscle tension
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness, or butterflies in the stomach
• Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds
• Shallow breathing and sweating
Behavioral Symptoms:
• Eating more or less
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous habits (nail biting, pacing)
Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of stress also can be caused by other psychological
and medical problems. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs of stress, it’s
important to see a doctor for an evaluation. Your doctor can help you determine whether or
not your symptoms are stress related.
Effects of Stress
Stress is difficult for professionals to define because it is a highly subjective phenomenon
that differs for each of us. Things that are distressful for some individuals can be pleasurable
for others. We also respond to stress differently. Some people blush, some eat more
while others grow pale or eat less. There are numerous physical as well as emotional
responses as illustrated by the following list of 50 common signs and symptoms of stress.
50 Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress
1. Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
2. Gritting, grinding teeth
3. Stuttering or stammering

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4. Tremors, trembling of lips, hands
5. Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms
6. Light headedness, faintness, dizziness
7. Ringing in the ears
8. Frequent blushing, sweating
9. Dry mouth, problems swallowing
10. Cold or sweaty hands, feet
11. Frequent colds, infections
12. Rashes, itching, hives, “goose bumps”
13. Unexplained or frequent allergy attacks
14. Heartburn, stomach pain, nausea
15. Excess belching, flatulence
16. Constipation, diarrhea
17. Difficulty breathing, sighing
18. Sudden attacks of panic
19. Chest pain, palpitations
20. Frequent urination
21. Low sexual drive or performance
22. Excess anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness
23. Increased anger, frustration, hostility
24. Depression, frequent or intense mood
swings
25. Increased or decreased appetite
26. Insomnia, nightmares, disturbing dreams
27. Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts
28. Trouble learning new information
29. Forgetfulness, disorganization, confusion
30. Difficulty in making decisions
31. Feeling overwhelmed
32. Frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts
33. Feelings of loneliness or worthlessness
34. Little interest in appearance, punctuality
35. Nervous habits, feet tapping, fidgeting
36. Increased frustration, irritability
37. Overreaction to petty annoyances
38. Increased number of minor accidents
39. Obsessive/compulsive behaviors
40. Reduced work productivity
41. Lies or excuses to cover up poor work
42. Rapid or mumbled speech
43. Excessive defensiveness or suspiciousness
44. Problems with communication
45. Social withdrawal or isolation
46. Constant tiredness, weakness, fatigue
47. Frequent use of over-the-counter drugs
48. Weight gain or loss without diet

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49. Increased smoking, alcohol, or drug use
50. Excessive gambling or impulse buying
As demonstrated in the preceding list, stress can have wide ranging effects on emotion,
mood, and behavior. Equally important but often less appreciated are effects on various
systems, organs, and tissues all over the body, as illustrated in the following diagram.
Physical or mental stresses may cause physical illness as well as mental or emotional
problems. Here are the parts of the body affected by stress:
Hair:
High stress levels may cause excessive hair loss and some forms of baldness.
Muscles:
Spasmodic pains in the neck and shoulders, musculoskeletalaches, lower back
pain, and various minor muscular twitches and nervoustics are more notice a bleunder stress.
Digestive tract:
Stress can cause or aggravate diseases of the digestive tract including gastritis, stomach and
duodenalulcers, ulcerative colitis, and irritable colon.
Skin:
Some individuals react to stress with outbreaks of skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis.
Reproductive organs:
Stress affects the reproductive system causing menstrual disorders and recurrent vaginal
infections in women
Lungs:
High levels of mental or emotional stress adversely affect individuals with asthmatic conditions.
Heart:
Cardiovascular disease and hypertension are linked to accumulated stress.
Brain:
Stress triggers mental and emotional problems such as insomnia, headaches, personality changes,
irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Mouth:
Mouth ulcers and excessive dryness are often symptoms of stress.
The Effects of Stress
There are numerous emotional and physical disorders that have been linked to stress
including depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances

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that increase susceptibility to infections, a host of viral linked disorders ranging
from the common cold to herpes to certain cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases
like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
In addition, stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis),
the gastrointestinal system (GERD, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative
colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like
Parkinson’s disease. In fact, it is hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot
play an aggravating role or any part of the body that is not affected (see Effects of
Stress on the Body diagram). This list will undoubtedly grow as the extensive ramifications
of stress are increasingly being appreciated.

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WORKING WOMEN
Stress’ word has been derived from physics and mechanics where it is defined as physical
pressure exerted upon, and between different parts of body, when deformation occurs as a result
it is called strain. Stress can be any kind of change in our daily routine or health. Stress has both
psychological as well physiological dimensions. To go from home and work or job is one of the
stressors amongst working women. Rapid changes in traditional values, life styles of women,
competitiveness, career ambitiousness and industrialization are the major factors that have
changed the whole environment. This change has encouraged and motivated the women to do
something at their own, outside home, which creates work stress and anxiety also. Thus, it is
becoming difficult for those, who played the role of housewife, mother and working women at a
time. The objective of this paper is to gather a deep understanding of stress among working
women.
Many women today are facing choices that their mothers never had to face. One of these choices
is whether or not to go back to work after having a child. This was practically unheard of in the
1950’s. In the 1990’s it is not whether the mother will or will not go back to work, rather a
question of when. When did the choice become set in stone? Why do the mothers of today have
to work outside the home versus working in the home, much like their mothers did.
When one thinks of the subject of working mothers, many differing opinions come to mind.
What will happen to the child, will the mother have sufficient time to bond with the baby, how
will household chores be divided, and so on. When thinking of working women, two models
come to mind. One of which is paid employment that has a protective and beneficial mediating
effect. Employment protects women against certain negative aspects of being full-time
homemakers and mothers, such as monotonous housework, dependence on the male partner for
financial and emotional support, increases self-esteem because they are contributing to the world
they live in. These women receive a renewed interest in life because they are in the thick of it.
They are living life to the fullest. This model is the one that is constantly referred to as “bad”
because it paints the woman as someone who does not really care about the effect of working
will have on the baby. In fact, most of these mothers have made this choice with painstaking
care. They are constantly feeling what everyone is thinking, and this in turn causes undue stress
on these mothers.

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The other model of the working mom is the one most people think of when discussing working
mothers. This model is one of a woman having too many demands of her –housewife, mother
and paid employee – which may lead to role strain due to fatigue and role overload. The
competing demands of such roles may also lead to conflict and psychological stress. Both of
these models can be seen in the working mother at any given time. They are simply a fact of life,
a by product of the world in which we live. Mothers are constantly jumping back and forth in
these roles, striving to find a sense of balance. But is there such a thing? Most of the time the
scales are tipped one way or another, there is never a true sense of balance. I believe this is how
the mothers survive. If the scales were balanced, it would seem that they would either be cruel
heartless women, simply concerned with their jobs, and caring less about their children. This is
simply not the case. It seems that the ideal situation is when the father helps around the house, as
to alleviate some of the stress the mother feels from working and the ability for the mother to
have
Role decisions within the family unit need to increase when the mother returns to work. In order
for both partners to be happy and feel fulfilled, there needs to be a clear definition of roles with
in the family unit. This is something that should be discussed and decided well before the mother
returns to work. In making role decisions, the parents must somehow combine their perceptions
of the rewards and costs associated with each role in order to determine which combination of
roles will provide them with the best role position. In other words, they need to figure out what
they can do best for the family when they both parents work. If this is accomplished, the family
will function better as a unit, and stress will be alleviated for all.
Another set back that is constantly facing working mothers is that their work is looked upon as
optional, it is also viewed as less important than their partner’s. When these attitudes are
confronted, it makes the transition for the working mother all the more difficult. The constant
backlash from the public makes these mothers feel so guilty that some may even quit just to
alleviate the stress. In order for working mothers to feel needed, and to have their work mean
something, others need to look upon their work as something substantial, something important,
not simply an option. When workplaces provide flexible scheduling and childcare services, these
are the first steps in getting working mothers into the workforce and alleviate their feelings of
guilt.

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Many working mothers today are facing the reality of the “second shift”. This is where they put
in a full day of work at the office only to come home to start their “second shift”, the one that
entails all the housework and the raising of the family. Mothers feel that they have no choice in
the matter, in order to be the “perfect” mother, they need to put in this shift, because it is their
responsibility. But why is it their responsibility? Why does the father feel it is his right to come
home and relax, when the mother is busy fixing dinner, and disciplining children. In order for the
working mother to keep her sanity, the father needs to jump in and help with the chores that were
previously held by the homemaker. In this day and age, the ideal homemaker is a thing of the
past. Many women today want and desire careers and a place in this world. They want to stand
on their own two feet, to become a self-sustaining individual, free of dependence on another
individual.
When the mother considers the idea of working and raising a family, many things need to be
considered. The responsibilities need to be divided evenly so as to alleviate the stress that will
evolve due to all the changes. For the working mothers, understanding is first and foremost
needed in order for the psychological well being. They need to feel that their work is important,
and necessary, and that they are not sacrificing their child’s well being in order to benefit
themselves. The danger involved is that the mothers could feel so guilty in working that they feel
that they are abandoning their child to the caregivers that they are in contact with daily. The
mothers need a support system in order to survive the roller coaster involved when they go back
to work. If all these factors are taken into consideration, the transition to working mom will be
that much easier for the entire family and the child will not suffer.

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JUSTIFICATION
This study focuses on the stress management among working women employees in
Allahabad. In this research I am going to find out what are the problems faced by
women employees due to which they are stressed. This study is beneficial for the
women in reducing their stress and towards smooth functioning in their work .

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OBJECTIVES
(a) To study the causes of stress among women employees in various
Organizations and situations like Banks, Colleges, Hospitals, Shopkeepers,
Lawyers in Allahabad .
(b) To identify the methods used by women for coping with stress.

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
DATA SOURCES:
(a) Primary data: The primary data will be collected
through the women working in Banks , Professors,
Teachers, Boutiques, Lawyers etc.
(b) Secondary data: Apart from primary data the secondary
data will be collected from the past references .
SAMPLING:
Sample population : 100 ( employees from banks , hospitals ,
professors, shopkeepers, lawyers.)
Sampling area : Allahabad
Sample method : Questionaire
Type of research : Descriptive
Statistical tools : line diagram

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REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1) Kavitha (2012) in her research has stated ―Role of stress among women employees
forming majority workforce at IT sector in Chennai and Coimbatore, she has focused on
the organizational role stress for the employees in the IT sector. She found in her
research that, women face more stress than men in the organization and she viewed to be
more specific married women faces more stress than the unmarried women.
2) Swaminathan & Rajkumar (2013) in their work has narrated ―Stress levels in
Organizations and their Impact on Employees Behaviour . They have conducted a study
that focused on the levels of stress among the age group, profession, different varieties of
jobs, hours of work and the influence of work environment on the degree of stress faced
by employees. Stress in an employees individual in nature. This study indicates that, an
optimum level in which every individual can perform with his full capacity and identified
three conditions responsible for work stress they are 1) Role overload 2) Role self
distance 3) Role stagnation.
3) Satija & Khan (2013) in their research work has interpreted―Emotional Intelligence as
Predictor of Occupational Stress among Working Professionals‖ . According to them
Occupational Stress is as same as Job Stress that needs to be controlled at the workplace
otherwise it will negatively affect on employee’s work attitudes &behavior. This study
investigates that, the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Occupational
Stress.
4) Viljoen and Rothmann, (2009) have investigated the relationship between
―occupational stress, ill health and organizational commitment. They found that
organizational stressors contributed significantly to ill health and low organizational
commitment. Stress about job security contributed to both physical and psychological ill
health. Low individual commitment to the organization was predicted by five stressors,
such as Work-life balance, Overload, Control, Job aspects and Pay.
5) Schmidt, Costa (1994)in their work on ―Occupational stress among nursing staffing
surgical settings‖. They aimed at evaluating the presence of occupational stress among
nursing professionals working in surgical settings and investigating the
relations between occupational stress and work characteristics.

17. 17
6) Zhang(2009) has conducted a study on titled ―Occupational stress and
teaching approaches among Chinese academics. Researcher suggested that, controlling
the self-ratingabilities of the participants, the Favorable conceptual changes in teaching
approach and theirrole insufficiency predicated that the conceptual change in teaching
strategy is negative.
7) Urakawa and Yokoyam in (2009) their work on ―Sense of Coherence(SOC) may
Reduce the effects of Occupational Stress on Mental Health Status .Among Japanese
Factory Workers‖ has found the result i.e. adverse effects on mental health due to thejob
demand and job stress was positively associated with SOC, the mental health status of
males in managerial work was adversely negative, where as it was positive among the
female co-workers. Finally they found that, SOC is an important factor determining the
coping ability over the job stress for both the genders.
8) Agolla (2009) in his research titled ―Police Officers: The Case of Botswana Police
Service‖. He has conducted a study in Botswana, among the police to find out work stress
symptoms and coping strategies among the police service. This study reveals that the
police work stressors are; getting injured while on duty and the use of force when the job
demands to do so, etc. The coping strategies were identified as exercising, socializing,
healthy eating or diets, career planning and employee training.
9) Connolly, and John (2009) in their research titled―Occupational Stress &
Psychological Well Being following University Relocation‖ they describe and analyze
that management standards for work related stress(demand, support, control, role,
relationships and change) can be analyzed by examining 1) overall levels of
psychological strain 2) job satisfaction, and 3) the psychosocial working conditions.
10) Khalid .(2012) in his research titled ―Role of Supportive Leadership as a Moderator
between Job Stress and Job Performance , have found that, there is a direct relationship
between stress and job performance in any organization. To improve the performance of
an individual in an organization an employee should receive good support from their
leaders. Therefore, a supportive leader can improve the performance of an employee even
at unfavorable situations .

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DATA ANALYSIS
(Demographic profile)
CATEGORIES
Lawyer 20%
Nurse 20%
Shopkeeper/Salesgirl 20%
Professor 20%
Banker 20%
Interpretation : Each figure of 20% female respondents are from the categories divided into
lawyer, nurse, shopkeeper, banker.
Lawyer
Nurse
Shopkeeper/Salesgirl
Banker

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Q.1 Is work culture supportive in your organization?
Interpretation: In the case of lawyer respondents replied that 2% mostly,8% rarely,10.5%
sometimes of them were supportive in their work culture. Among the nurses 2.5% of them
sometimes,4% of them mostly and 10.5% were agreed to the above , incase of shopkeeper 2% of
them mostly,8% of them rarely and 10%of them sometimes replied to the query, Professors in
the category were 4% mostly, 14.5 % rarely ,and 14% were sometimes supportive ,Bankers in
the same were 6% mostly, 8.5% rarely and 6.5% were supportive in their organization.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
mostly
rarely
sometimes
not at all

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Q.2 How do you feel while working in the organization?
Interpretation : Among the lawyers 3% great, 2% satisfied, 5%unable to concentrate and
7%were frustrate ,among the nurses 2% great,1% satisfied ,3% unable to concentrate and 5%
were frustrate ,among the shopkeepers 1% were great,3% were satisfied,5% unable to
concentrate and the 9% were frustrate ,among the professor 1% were great ,2%
satisfied,4%unable to concentrate,6% frustrate, among the bankers 2%
great,3%satisfied,7%unable to concentrate, and 2% were frustrate while working in the
organization.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
great
satisfied
unable concentrate
frustate
depressed

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Q.3 Have you taken leave in the past 12 months due to work related stress?
Interpretation: The above figure indicates that the respondents in the category lawyers
14.5% yes , 8.5% no ,among nurses 16% yes ,6.5 % no, among shopkeepers ,among professors
14% yes, 10.5 no ,among bankers 12.5% yes and 8% no responded that have taken leave in the
past 12 months due to work related stress.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
yes
no

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Q.4 The average number of hours per week that you work during term time.
Interpretation : The higher respondents among the lawyers were 12.5 % ,nurses 14%
,shopkeepers 8.5% professors 16% ,bankers 16% replied the average number of hours per week
that they work during the term time is 40-50.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
40-50
50-60
60 to above

23. 23
Q.5 Indicate total workload, change during the last three years?
Interpretation : The result shows that among the lawyers 4% decreased,6.5%remained the
same 8.5% increased, among the nurses 6.5% decreased,8.5% remained the same ,10.5%
increased, among the shopkeepers 2% decreased, 2% remained the same and 16% increased,
among the professors 2.5% decreased, 10% remained the same,among the bankers 6.5 decreased
,4% remained the same ,14% workload has increased during the last three years.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
workload decreased
remain same
workload increased

24. 24
Q.6 How often you face stress situation in your organization?
Interpretation : The above result shows that mostly incase of lawyer 3% mostly,8% rarely
,9% sometimes, among nurses 9% mostly,5% rarely,3% sometimes ,in shopkeepers 5%
mostly,8% rarely,7% sometimes incase of professors 3% mostly ,1% rarely, 4% sometimes and
incase of bankers 9% mostly ,4% rarely ,2% sometimes and 1% not face stress situation in their
organization.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
mostly
rarely
sometimes
not at all

25. 25
Q.7 Most of your stress are related to:
Interpretation : The lawyers 8.5% environment,8% supervision 1% workgroup ,1% social
justice, among nurses 6.5 %,10% supervision among shopkeepers 8%work environment,10.5 %
supervision ,2% workgroup ,among professors 8% work environment ,10% supervision 2%
social injustice among the bankers 4% work environment,12% supervision,1% workgroup and
2.5% social injustice are the factors that are related to stress.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
work environment
supervision
workgroup
social injustice

26. 26
Q.8 Is stress related to demand at work place?
Interpretation : The above figure indicates that incase of lawyers 8.5% yes,10.5% no,among
nurses 12% yes ,8% no,among shopkeepers 10% yes ,10% no ,among professors 14.5% yes
,4.5% no, among bankers 12% yes,6.5% no stated that stress is related to demand at work place.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
yes
no

27. 27
Q.10 Whom do you report to/share if you have any problems in your work?
Interpretation : Among the lawyers 2.5% superior,14.5% colleagues,2% function head,
among nurses 2% superior, 16% colleagues, among shopkeepers 6% superior,12% colleagues,
2% function head, among professors 6% superior,10.5% colleagues, 2%function head,1% to
head of HR, among bankers 4.5% superior,10.5% colleagues ,4% to the function head reports to
the above if they have problems in their work.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
superior
colleagues
function head
head of Hr

28. 28
Q.11 How often do you face stress situation being taken care at work place?
Interpretation : The above figure says that lawyers 1%mostly,10% rarely,4%
frequently,1%not at all, among nurses 8.5% mostly, 6.5% rarely ,2% frequently, among
shopkeepers 2.5% mostly,14% rarely, 2.5% frequently ,among professors 12.5% rarely,4.5 %
frequently,2% not at all among the bankers 4.5% mostly,10% rarely, 4% frequently,1% not at all
face stress situation being taken care at work place.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
mostly
rarely
frequently
not at all

29. 29
Q.12 How do you handle stress situation?
Interpretation : The above result shows that incase of lawyers 6.5% ,12.5% with the help of
others, among nurses 8% optimistically,8.5% with the help of others,1% depend upon level
among shopkeepers 8% optimistically,10% with the help of others ,1% depends on others,
among bankers 4.5% optimistically ,10% with the help of others,4.5% depends upon level to
handle the stress situation.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
Optimistically
with help of others
depends upon level

30. 30
Q.13 To what level the management is effective in handling your stress situation?
Interpretation : The respondents had answered that among lawyers 6% completely ,12%
certain extent ,1% satisfactory among nurses 6.5% completely ,10.5% certain extent , among
shopkeepers 6% completely, 12% certain extent , 2% satisfactory, among professors
4%completely 8% certain extent,6%satisfactory 2% not at all among bankers 8.5 %
completely,6.5% certain extent ,4% satisfactory was the scale showing to what level the
management is effective in handling the stress situation.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
completely
certain extent
satisfactory
not at all

31. 31
Q.14 Is the upper management pressure main reason for stress?
Interpretation : The respondents said among the lawyers 10% yes ,8% no, among the nurses
12% yes ,6% no among the shopkeepers 6% yes 14% no among professors 10% yes ,6% no and
among the bankers 12.5% yes ,6.5 % no stated that the upper management pressure main reason
for the stress.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
lawyer nurse shopkeeper professor banker
yes
no

32. 32
FINDINGS
Most of the employees fear with the fact that they lack quality in their work. This puts stress on
them. It is found that maximum number of employees in the work place remains in stress. 50%
employees feel that they are overloaded with work. 42% employees feel tensed due to their non-
achievement of their target of work. 36% employees accepted that they will obey the order of
their boss by sacrificing their important domestic function.
It indicates fear and stress among employees. 37% employees feel stress due to their family
related problems. It means such employees feel greater level of stress as compared to other
employees. Half of the employees accepted that there is conflict among the employees . It is a
concern for top management. Only 44% employees feel that strategies used by organization to
manage stress of employees are effective. Majority of the employees try to find solution to
relieve them from stress.47% employees use YOGA or other ways to relieve them from stress. In
spite of stress, majority of the employees balance in their social life.

33. 33
CONCLUSION
Economic conditions of inflation, desire to maintain high standard of living, or develop “one’s
identity” are contributing to the economic push of women into the work force. Thus, financial
burden is stated as main stressors among working women. But as women increasingly gain
occupational mobility, they are not only exposed to the same physical hazards of work
environment as men but also exposed to the pressures created by multiple role demands and
conflicting expectations.
By fulfilling their economic needs, employment has no doubt made women independent with an
identifiable social status but it has also made them to juggle into two main domains of life- work
and family. They have stepped into work place but the role responsibilities of women still remain
the same. Multi-tasking is the buzzword these days for working women. An individual requires
special skills to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. One way to minimize stress while multi-
tasking is to plan, prioritize, and perform. It can thus be concluded that working women were
significantly more stressed.

34. 34
RECOMMENDATIONS
Stress can make an individual productive and constructive when it is identified and well
managed. In times of great stress or adversity, it‘s always best to keep busy, to plow anger and
energy into something positive. Positive attitude and meditation will be helpful for coping the
stress. Stress can be minimized if companies take the right steps. Stress–free employees perform
better, work harder, feel happier and have a long term commitment to the organization as
compared to their counterparts. Having broader perspective of life will
definitely change the perception of stress. Let us hope that we will be successful in making
distress into eustress for our healthy lifestyle as well as organizational well being .
Individual Oriented Strategies for Coping with Stress :-

1. Solo-Active - Reading, Writing, Photography, Art, Playing a musical instrument, Collection
of different things, Running, Hobbies, Vacations.
2.Group- Activities: - Sports, Games, Eating out, Vacations.
3.Solo-Passive/Group-Passive: - Television, Movies, Shows &Theatre, Listening to music,
Concepts, opera, Sporting events, Vacations.
4.Yoga & Meditation: - it is helpful in overcoming the stress
The Organizational Oriented Strategies for Coping with Stress :-

1. Flex time. Allowing workers to start or end the workday earlier or later can reduce
work/life
stress, especially for working parents. Flex time can also reduce the stress of commuting in
rush hour traffic.
2.Job sharing. This allows at least two people trained to perform each job, enabling each
employee to have time off without losing productivity.
3.Work from home. Working from home results in higher morale and job satisfaction and
lower employee stress and turnover, The prime reason is that working at home provides
employees more control over how they do their work, Working at home also helps workers
better manage work/family demands.
4.Longer lunch hours. Extending the lunch hour may help discourage snacking and fast food.
Adequate time may also encourage time for calming or other stress-reduction activities such
as walking.
5.Healthcare advocacy. Offering an expert who can personally address healthcare issues,

35. 35
such as helping to resolve medical bills and interacting with insurance and providers, can
help employees reduce worry an stay focused on their job.
6.EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) EAPs are typically offered by the HR department
as part of the employer’s health insurance plan to assess and address personal issues that
affect employee performance and productivity. Issues can range from substance abuse to
family problems, and EAPs often include counseling benefits. EAPs for substance abuse
can reduce workers’ compensation claims, employer healthcare costs, and absenteeism .
7.Stress management programs Conducting stress management programs at organizational
level, with the objective of creating awareness about stress and making employees to learn
stress management techniques.
8.Physical activities planned in job design The body can release stress, better through
physical exertion, as physicians were suggesting, indulging any kind of physical activity is
recommended while job design.

36. 36
LIMITATIONS
1. Research is confined to Allahabad.
2. Analysis of the stress has not been done on the basis of a particular management level in the
organization.
3. Responses may be influenced by the colleagues or some respondents may not disclose the
truth .
4. Stress level and its management are studied and discussed only in the context of the working
women.

37. 37
REFERENCES
1. Keeley,K and Harcourt, M., (2001), Occupational Stress: “A Study of the New Zealand
and ReserveBank, Research and Practice in Human Resource Management” ,Vol 9(2),
pgs 109-118.
2. Aujla, P., H. R. Gill and Sandhu, P (2004), “Sociological and Environmental Factors
Causing Stress Among Women and Fighting Techniques Used”, J. Hum. Ecol.,Vol
15(3),pgs 207-213.
3. Amir Shani and Abraham Pizam, (2009) ―Work-Related Depression among Hotel
Employees‖,Cornell Hospitality Quarterly,Vol 6 pgs 446-459
4. Dr. K. Chandrasekar (2011), "Workplace environment and its impact on organisational
performance in public sector organisations", International Journal of Enterprise
Computing and Business Systems, Vol.1,pgs 56-78
5. P. Kavitha (2012), Role of stress among women employees forming majority workforceat
IT sector in Chennai and Coimbatore, Tier-I & Tier-II centers, SONA- Global
Management Review , Vol 6,pgs 4-9.
6. P.S. Swaminath, Dr. S. Raj kumar (2013), Stress levels in Organizations and their Impact
on Employees’ Behaviour, BVIMR Management Edge, Vol. 6,pgs 79-88
7. Sarvesh Satija and Waheeda Khan (2013)Emotional Intelligence as Predictor of
Occupational Stress among Working Professionals, A Peer Reviewed Research Journal,
Vol.15pgs 5-8.
8. Diksha Madhok (2014), “India’s record in women’s participation in the
workforce is depressing”, www.qz.com/238484/indias-record-inwomens-participation-
in-the-workforce-is depressing retrieved on December 12.
9. Selys, H., (1936), Quoted by Pestonjee, DM(1999), Stress and Coping: the Indian
Experience, SagePublication, Vol 2 , pgs15-17
10. Frone, M.R., M. Russell, and Cooper, M. L. (1992). Antecendents and Outcomes of
Work-Family Conflict: Testing a Model of Work-Family Interface. Journal of Applied
Psychology, Vol .7, pgs 65-78. .
11. Pareek, A. and M. Mehta,(1997) Role Stress Among Working Women, in D.M.
Pestonyee, & U. Pareek (Eds), Studies in Organizational Role Stress and Coping
pgs 173-181.
.

38. 38

39. 39
ANNEXURE
Good day maam,
I am SNEH SAMRANI , a final year student ,bearing Id no 13BBAH009 from JOSEPH
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS STUDIES,SHIATS UNIVERSITY.I am carrying out a survey
on “STUDY OF INCREASING STRESS AMONG WORKING WOMEN IN
ALLAHABAD”. As a requirement of curriculum from B.B.A (H) degree course. I would
be very pleased if you could participate in my survey. This information collected from
100 respondents including you will be used for research purpose only. Please be ensured
that your responses will be completely anonymous and confidential.
Thank you very much for your time and suggestions .
Name : Age:
Occupation : Married/Unmarried :
Address : Email :
Q1. Is work culture supportive in your organization?
a. Mostly b. Rarely c. Sometimes d. Not at all
Q2. How do you feel while working in the organization?
a. Great b. Satisfied c. Unable to concentrate d. Frustrated e. Depressed
Q3. Have you taken leave in the past 12 months due to work related stress?
a. Yes b. No
Q4. Please estimate the average number of hours per week that you work (both on
and off site) during term time.
a. 40 – 50 b. 50 – 60 c. 60 – Above

40. 40
Q5. Please indicate total workload ,changed during last three years?
a. Workload has decreased b. Remained the same c. Workload increased
Q6. How often you face stress Situation in your organization.?
a. Mostly b. Rarely c. Sometimes d. Not at all
Q7. Most of your Stress are related to :
a. Work Environment b. Supervision c. Workgroup d. Social Injustice
Q8.Is stress related to Demand at work place?
a. Yes b.No
Q9.If yes what are the main reasons for stress at work?
a. Feeling work not valued b. Lack of management support c. Over
competitive/ confrontational institutional culture d. Incentive Policy e.
Dealing with customers f. Need to hit targets.
Q10. Whom do you report to / share if you have any problems in your work ?
a. Superior b. Colleagues (discussion) c. Function Head d. Head of HR
department
Q11.How often do you face stress situation being taken care off at work place?
a.Mostly b. Rarely c. Frequently d. Not at all
Q12. How do you handle Stress situations?
a. Optimistically b. With the help of others c. Depends upon level
Q13. To what level the Management is effective in handling your Stress situation?
a. Completely b. To a certain extent c. To a satisfactory d. Not at all
Q14. Is the upper Management pressure main reason for stress ?
a. Yes b. No