Individual Differences on Job Stress and Related Ill Health

Background: Work-related stress is becoming one of the key themes for attention because of its serious threats on workers’ wellbeing, job dissatisfaction and absenteeism.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the employees' individual differences in the perception of main workplace stressors, perceived job related stress and experienced health consequences.Methods: In a cross-sectional study a sample of 106 employees was surveyed within a private enterprise in Republic of Macedonia.Results: Analysis showed significant differences in experienced stress at work due to age, marital status, number of children, time spend in the current work position and working hours per day. Stressors such as: lack of personal knowledge and skills (60.4%), big pressure for last minute job completion (60.4%) and unstable work position (47.2%) were pointed out the most potential sources for job stress. The majority of employees who always experience health problems as a result of job stress were female (61.9%), on non-managerial position (85.7%), and 5 to 10 years in the current work position (42.9%).Conclusion: Employees are exposed to many potential work related stressors which differently affect their job satisfaction and result in ill health. A better understanding of the individual characteristics and potential stressors should subsequently help managers' better deal with this problem. This underlines the need for further research and design of stress reduction interventions.