Work-related stress has a high prevalence among employees in Albania. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, which adds that the stress experienced by employees has the potential to adversely affect their quality of life.

The study focused on Tirana and involved 800 employed people. To measure stress level at Work Stress Scale was used and to identify stress factors a questionnaire was designed which contains stressors at work identified from studies conducted elsewhere.

According to the Occupational Stress Scale form, a significant proportion of employees (48.5%) experience moderate level stress and 12.4% of employees experience problematic level stress.

The obtained data show that women (51.5%) are more likely than men (43.3%) to experience moderate level stress but have no difference with them in experiencing problematic level stress (women 12.4%, men 12.6%). %). According to the study, one possible explanation for this fact is that regardless of occupation, females are more exposed than males to certain stressful factors such as multiple roles, barriers to a normal career, and discrimination.

reasons

The study's findings also suggest that poor physical conditions; workload; extended working hours; physical occupational risk; responsibility for other people; promotion beyond reach; lack of job security; negative relationships with the boss or colleagues; inappropriate communication with the boss or colleagues; and the absence of layoffs do not increase the level of stress on employees.

While factors like time pressure; role ambiguity; role conflict; lack of promotion; difficulty delegating tasks; poor teamwork; lack of participation in decision making; unequal treatment at work; engaging in difficult tasks; and low wages, increase the level of stress on employees.

Methodology:

A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed to measure the level of stress at work and to identify the factors that develop it. Questionnaires were distributed randomly to all the institutions and enterprises involved in the study. The questionnaires were distributed by trained persons who were available to the participants to explain any possible uncertainty regarding the questions. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed in the private sector. The businesses that were included in the study are call centers, investment offices, printing companies, commercial banks and telephone companies.

A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed in the public sector. 235 questionnaires were distributed to the public administration. The institutions in which the questionnaires were distributed are the Public Health Inspectorate, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania, the Central Election Commission, the Albanian Development Fund and 2 mini municipalities of the city of Tirana. 95 questionnaires were distributed in the health sector. The questionnaires were distributed at the Mother Theresa Hospital Center. In the education system, 120 questionnaires were distributed and 6 9-year schools in Tirana were included in the study. Given the sensitive nature of the objective of this study and to respect the request of a number of respondents, the names of some institutions have not been made public in the study.

Source: Monitor