Abstract

RAMOS, Valentina  and  JORDAO, Filomena. Gender and occupational stress: similarities and differences according to risk factors and coping mechanisms. Rev. Psicol., Organ. Trab. [online]. 2014, vol.14, n.2, pp. 218-229. ISSN 1984-6657.

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to identify differences between men and women according to their experience with occupational stress, associated risk factors, and the coping mechanisms used. The sample included 579 women and 515 men, all working at the same organization based in Porto. Information was gathered using a four point scale to measure perceived job stress, stress factor sources, the coping strategies employed, and the connection between personal and organizational values. Using the ANOVA test, we found that there were no significant differences, considering as significant p <.001 and p <.05, as to gender, regarding the work stress experience. Application of the ANCOVA test showed that men had significantly fewer risk factors and more involvement with the organization, compared to women. Men also showed a significantly greater variety of coping methods, and presented emotional responses that the literature proposes as more characteristic of women. Meanwhile, women exhibited behaviors contrary to our expectations, such as in the use of positive reinterpretation. These results point to an understanding of stress within the context analyzed, which does not correspond with studies conducted in other contexts. This offers more information about the complexity of this phenomenon, which must be verified in other organizations.

Keywords : Occupational stress; gender; risk factors; values; coping styles.

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