International Journal of Mechanical and Production

Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD)

ISSN (P): 2249-6890; ISSN (E): 2249-8001
Vol. 8, Special Issue 4, Dec 2018, 66-72
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

DIAGNOSING THE EFFECT OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESSORS THROUGH

STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING (SEM): A STUDY AMONG THE
EMPLOYEES OF MAGNESITE INDUSTRY IN TAMIL NADU

K. LOGASAKTHI & K.GUNASEKARAN

Assistant Professor-School of Management, VelTech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT

Occupational Stressors are called factors which influence the employees to feel the feeling of stress they are
work environment, work culture and Peers and Colleagues. Moreover, in the absence of stressors no work environment
exists and moves towards achievement of industrial goal. The objective of the study is to identify the level of influence
of Occupational Stressors among the employees of Magnesite Industry and diagnose the effect of Occupational
Stressors. Exploratory research design was used to formulate a problem for more precise investigation and developed
working hypothesis. The different aspects of the problem were considered under the study to discover the new ideas and

Original Article
insights. The total population of 1021 which consists three categories of employee such as administrative/Executive
supervisory/clerical and workmen Since it does not constitute a homogeneous group, stratified sampling technique is
applied and taken 403 samples to the study purpose. A tool of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to
analyze the multivariate data such as internal stressors, external stressors, physical effect, psychological effect,
behavioural effect and intellectual effect.

KEYWORDS: Occupational Stressors, physical effect, psychological effect, behavioural effect, Intellectual effect.

INTRODUCTION

Occupational stress is an inevitable but manageable one. In order to meet the competitiveness and
dynamic working environment most of the working people use to spend maximum time in their workplace.
However, changes in the technology, work culture and organizational climate makes them to feel uncomfortable to
meet the working requirements .i.e. incapable to meet the working requirements, those feelings are referred as
occupational stress. Occupational stress can affect the workers’ health when the stressors of the workplace
exceed the worker’s ability to have some control over their situation or to cope in other ways (2006, Public
Employees Federation health and safety department). It also explains the occupational stress in various
dimensions, i.e. Normally workers are overburdened with work load that remain high regardless of their efforts
that work load is called stressor. During this stage workers feel anxious and their heart rate speeds up because they
cannot control their work load that is called stress. An individual who puts physical or mental effort with the
intention of increasing his economical values in to the particular things is known as occupational. It is known as
job or work in the industrial context. Occupational stress refers to a feeling that when workers are ill-equipped to
do a task which is assigned by the superiors. It shows that when workers don’t have the capability to fulfil the
industrial expectation that stress feeling exists. It is important to know that stress is not always negative or bad. In
fact the early research conducted on the topic stress by Selye (1976) conceptualized the stress in to two categories

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67 K. Logasakthi & K.Gunasekaran

namely good or positive stress (eustress) and bad or negative stress (distress).

REVIEWS OF LITERATURE

Teri Gatto (2017) The aim of the study to reveal the Sleepless Nights how adding more stress, it has highlighted
that in today’s fast-paced 24 hour news cycle society, a night of restful sleep is getting harder and harder to achieve
minimum amount of sleeplessness can affect our mood, memory and judgment. Moreover, if the Insomnia persists it can
lead to harmful health conditions including heart problems obesity or high blood pressure. Bailham & Joseph (2016)
“Post-traumatic stress following childbirth: a review of the emerging literature and directions for research and practice”
The aim of this paper is to provide a review of the emerging literature on the relationship between the experience of
difficult childbirth and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). First, we discuss the criteria for
diagnosis of PTSD and the implications that changes in these criteria over the past decade have had for women who
experience a traumatic childbirth. Although the literature is limited, it can be concluded that women who experience
traumatic childbirth may go on to develop clinically significant symptoms of PTSD in the postnatal period. Second, we
discuss the clinical presentation of PTSD in women who undergo childbirth. Sexual avoidance and parenting problems
may be features particular to women who experience difficult and traumatic childbirth. Jungwee Park (2016) “Work
stress and job performance” work stress is defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when job
requirements do not match the worker’s capabilities, resources, and needs (National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health 1999). It is recognized world-wide as a major challenge to individual mental and physical health, and organizational
health (ILO 1986). Stressed workers are also more likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less productive and less safe at
work. And their organizations are less likely to succeed in a competitive market. By some estimates work-related stress
costs the national economy a staggering amount in sick pay, lost productivity, and health care and litigation costs. Uma
Maheswari & Gnanasundaram (2016) “Stress related oral diseases- a research study” Stress is defined as a physical, mental
or emotional response to events that causes bodily or mental tension. Every organ in the human body is affected by various
types of diseases like infection caused by microbes, immunological, metabolic, endocrinal disturbances etc.
Etiopathogenesis of many diseases are discovered and managed at any early stage, still some diseases are considered as
idiopathic, hence diagnosis and treatment plan of such diseases always becomes controversial. Stress is one such etiology
or predisposing factor in many diseases. Many authors have proved stress in relation to hypertension, gastric ulcer and
diabetes mellitus. Similarly this research study aims in identifying and proving the role of stress as one of the etiological
factor in few oral lesions such as Oral lichen planus, Apthous ulcers, Burning mouth syndrome and Myofacial pain
Dysfunction syndrome. Vivette Glover & Jane Barlow (2015) study revealed about trouble-free pregnancy is something
that all parents and practitioners might hope for, but for many couples this is not the reality and many women can
experience anxiety and/or depression at some point during their pregnancy. This article outlines the immediate and long
term effects that may be experienced by some but not all babies as a result of such problems, and highlights the need for
interventions aimed at reducing anxiety and depression before and during the transition to parenthood. Oguntimilehin et
al. (2015) “A Clinical Decision Support System for Managing Stress” study revealed that Stress is a silent killer that forms
part of everyday life of humans. Stress Overload has a lot of negative effects which include–hypertension, stroke,
dysfunction of body systems, poor performance, heart failures and sudden death in some cases. Most people have stress
without cognitive notice of being stressed up. Diagnosing stress has been one of the major issues in health sector because it
has multiple symptoms. Biomedical Signal devices such as ECG (Electrocardiogram) are being used for the purpose of
diagnosing stress and most available Computer Aided Diagnostic Systems for managing stress rely heavily on these

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Diagnosing the Effect of Occupational Stressors Through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM): 68
A Study Among the Employees of Magnesite Industry in Tamil Nadu

devices which are not common especially in rural areas, difficult to handle and also very expensive. These among other
reasons have led to many undiagnosed cases of stress. In this work, we have presented a simple effective Clinical Decision
Support System to manage stress.

METHODOLOGY

Exploratory research design was used to formulate a problem for more precise investigation and developed working
hypothesis. The different aspects of the problem were considered under the study to discover the new ideas and insights. The
total population of 1021 which consists three categories of employee such as administrative/Executive supervisory/clerical
and workmen Since it does not constitute a homogeneous group, stratified sampling technique is applied and taken 403
samples to the study purpose. In Tamil Nadu, the major reserve of magnesite is located at Salem district. In Salem district
three major companies who gives major productions are namely Tamil Nadu Magnesite Ltd (TANMAG), SAIL Refractory
company Ltd and Dalmia Magnesite Corporation .The employees’ strength in the study units are listed below. A tool of
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze the multivariate data. It is a statistical technique that combines
elements of traditional multivariate models, such as regression analysis, factor analysis and simultaneous equation
modeling. The Structural equation modeling approach is sometimes also called caused modeling because competing
models can be postulated about the data and tested against each other many applications of Structural equation modeling
can be found in the social sciences, where measurement error and uncertain casual conditions are commonly encountered.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Data were collected through questionnaire; collected data were systematically tabulated and processed for the
purpose of analysis and interpretation. Diagnosing the Effect of Occupational Stressors through Structural Equation
Modelling (SEM): A Study among the Employees of Magnesite Industry in Tamil Nadu has done in major three industries
of Salem district namely Tamil Nadu Magneiste Ltd, SAIL refractory company ltd and Dalmia Magnesite Corporation.
Among the total population of 1021 different three categories of respondents (administrative/executives,
supervisory/clerical and workmen), the study applied proportionate stratified sampling technique and has taken 403
respondents and the primary data collected from them.

STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL

Structural equation modeling is a statistical technique that combines elements of traditional multivariate models,
such as regression analysis, factor analysis and simultaneous equation modeling. The Structural equation modeling
approach is sometimes also called caused modeling because competing models can be postulated about the data and tested
against each other many applications of Structural equation modeling can be found in the social sciences, where
measurement error and uncertain casual conditions are commonly encountered.

Model Testing: The variables used in the structural equation model are

Observed, endogenous variables

Work Culture, Peers and Colleagues, Working Environment, Undervalued By Relatives and Family Members,
Insufficient Social Commitment, Poor Family Administration, Alert on Work, Physical and Mental Health Confidence,
Happiness, Behavioral Effect, Psychological Effect Physical Effect and Consequences of Stress.

Unobserved, endogenous variables

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69 K. Logasakthi & K.Gunasekaran

Eustress, Distress

Unobserved, exogenous variables

Internal source of stress e3, e2, e1

External source of stress: e6, e5, e4, e7, e8, e9, e10, e13, e12, e11, e14, e15, e16

Hence number of variable in the SEM are

Number of variables in the model : 34, Number of observed variables : 14, Number of unobserved variables
: 20, Number of exogenous variables : 18, Number of endogenous variables : 16

Table 1 Variable in the Structural Equation Model Analysis

Un
Standardized t P
standardized S.E.
Co-efficient value value
Co-efficient
External
Eustress <--- Stimuli of -.206 .134 -.141 -2.132 .032
stress
Internal
Eustress <--- Stimuli of .228 .102 .206 2.237 .025
stress
External
Distress <--- Stimuli of -.678 .139 -.574 -4.859 ***
stress
Internal
Distress <--- Stimuli of .217 .083 .242 2.602 .009
stress
Internal
Work Culture <--- Stimuli Of 1.000 .652
Stress
Internal
Peers And
<--- Stimuli of .834 .094 .621 8.893 ***
Colleagues
stress
Internal
Working
<--- Stimuli of 2.346 .254 .720 9.231 ***
Environment
stress
Undervalued By
External
Relatives
<--- Stimuliof 1.000 .570
And Family
stress
Members
Insufficient External
Social <--- Stimuli of 2.856 .327 .745 8.731 ***
Commitment stress
External
Poor Family
<--- Stimuli of 1.703 .208 .599 8.191 ***
Administration
stress
Alert On Work <--- Eustress 1.000 .611
Physical And
<--- Eustress .212 .029 .453 7.225 ***
Mental Health
Confidence <--- Eustress .621 .067 .630 9.211 ***
Happiness <--- Eustress .471 .054 .574 8.663 ***
Behavioral
<--- Distress 1.000 .453
Effect

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Diagnosing the Effect of Occupational Stressors Through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM): 70
A Study Among the Employees of Magnesite Industry in Tamil Nadu

Un
Standardized t P
standardized S.E.
Co-efficient value value
Co-efficient
Psychological
<--- Distress 2.419 .292 .858 8.283 ***
Effect
Physical Effect <--- Distress 2.014 .252 .687 8.004 ***
Consequences of
<--- Eustress -1.352 .136 -.653 -9.912 ***
Stress
Consequences of
<--- Distress -1.317 .173 -.516 -7.616 ***
Stress
NOTE: *** denotes significant at 1% level

The estimated positive sign implies that such effect is positive that Alert on Work would increase by 1.00 for
every unit increase in Eustress and this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level. The co-efficient of Eustress is 0.212
represents the partial effect of Eustress on Physical and Mental Health, holding others as constant. The estimated positive
sign implies that such effect is positive that Physical and Mental Health would increase by 0.212 for every unit increase in
Eustress and this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level. The co-efficient of Eustress is 0.621 represents the partial
effect of Eustress on Confidence, holding others as constant. The estimated positive sign implies that such effect is positive
that Confidence would increase by 0.621 for every unit increase in Eustress and this co-efficient value is significant at 1%
level. The co-efficient of Eustress is 0.471 represents the partial effect of Eustress on Happiness, holding others as
constant. The estimated positive sign implies that such effect is positive that Happiness would increase by 0.471 for every
unit increase in Eustress and this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level. The co-efficient of Distress is 1.000
represents the partial effect of Distress on Behavioral Effect, holding others as constant. The estimated positive sign
implies that such effect is positive that Behavioral Effect would increase by 1.000 for every unit increase in Distress and
this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level. The co-efficient of Distress is 2.419 represents the partial effect of
Distress on Psychological Effect, holding others as constant. The estimated positive sign implies that such effect is positive
that Psychological Effect would increase by 2.419 for every unit increase in Distress and this co-efficient value is
significant at 1% level. The co-efficient of Distress is 2.014 represents the partial effect of Distress on Physical Effect,
holding others as constant. The estimated positive sign implies that such effect is positive that Physical Effect would
increase by 2.014 for every unit increase in Distress and this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level. The co-efficient
of Eustress is -1.352 represents the partial effect of Eustress on Consequences of Stress, holding others as constant. The
estimated positive sign implies that such effect is negative that Consequences of Stress would decrease by 1.352for every
unit increase in Eustress and this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level. The co-efficient of Distress is -1.317
represents the partial effect of Distress on Consequences of Stress, holding others as constant. The estimated positive sign
implies that such effect is negative that Consequences of Stress would decrease by 1.317 for every unit increase in Distress
and this co-efficient value is significant at 1% level.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Overall effect of distress among the respondents of Dalmia Corporation was ranged between 9 and 21 with an
average of 15.63 (62.53%), the Overall Consequences of distress among SAIL Refractory company Ltd,. was ranged
between 8 and 19 with an average of 13.22(52.90%) and the Overall Consequences of distress among TANMAG
Corporation was ranged between 7 and 19 with an average of 13.88(55.54%).Further to test the significant difference
between the mean score among the demographic variable of Company t test is used and the result is also shown, Since the

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71 K. Logasakthi & K.Gunasekaran

P value is less than 0.01 hence there is highly significant difference in the mean scores regarding consequences level has
found with respect to Company. It is found from the analysis that the percentage of high Level of Consequences of distress
of was the highest (3.2%) among workmen category and same was the lowest (18.26%) among the Permanent Work
category of respondents. The percentage of medium Level of Consequences of distress was the highest (58.6%) among the
respondents in workmen category and the same was lowest (4%) among the administrative respondents. The percentage of
the low level of Consequences of distress was the highest (14.9%) among the Workmen category respondents and the same
was lowest (1%) among the Administrative respondents. Generally people have the tendency to feel the illness in the body
but the employees of magnesite industry are more vulnerable especially work men category, they have feel these physical
effects such as tension headache, back pain, indigestions, suffocation, muscle ache etc. To solve the health related issues of
the employees, the management can organize medical camp for employees on monthly basis, so that the employees get
cure from physical diseases and injuries. In twenty first century, the situation gives stress every minute from birth to last
breathe but that has to be manageable, Yoga and meditation plays a predominant role to have the peaceful mind and it
helps to manage the psychological stress but for the physical stress needed to practice the therapeutic exercise such as
breathing, Aerobic, Zumba. In the work place during the lunch break by means of listening music can make the mind to
feel peacefully and happy that will rejuvenate the employees to perform further more better. The study on occupational
stress among the employees with reference magnesite industry has been conducted with the objectives of portray the level
of occupational stress, to identify the sources of Occupational stress among the employees and to know the effect of
Occupational stress among the employees. The research covering three categories of employees namely administrative,
clerical and workmen category, it was understood from the analysis that the level of stress has been varying among the
employees, specifically workmen category has high level of physical stress comparing with clerical and administrative,
moreover administrative and clerical category employees have high psychological stress and moderate physical stress. In
the current industrial scenario without occupational stress no profession exists, in fact stress (eustress) is the first step to
achieve individual and organizational goal. At the same time, High levels of distress destroy the individual performance
and impair the human health and body severely. The Holistic view of study concludes that instead of managing the
occupational stress, preventing the occupational stress by adopting coping strategies on physical and mental excise such
as practice the therapeutic exercise such as breathing, physical exercise, Aerobic and Zumba. In turn the maintained level
of eustress mode could be benefited towards alert in work and other activities focus on goal, creative thinking and
enthusiastic mind set in the working environment.

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