Work stress among six professional groups: The Singapore experience

Kwok Bun Chan*, Gina W F LAI, Yiu Chung Ko, Kam Weng Boey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

113 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent developments in stress research have called for attention to how social structures influence the stress and coping processes. This paper examines the experience of work stress among professionals in Singapore and argues that workers' experiences in the workplace are influenced not only by individual personality and job nature, but also by structural forces shaping the profession, the social organization of work institutions and the development of the economy. Data were collected from a survey of professionals in Singapore conducted in 1989-1990. The sample consisted of 2570 men and women from six different professions and para-professions, namely general practitioners, lawyers, engineers, teachers, nurses and life insurance personnel. Results showed that performance pressure and work-family conflicts were perceived to be the most stressful aspects of work. These two stressors also significantly contributed to the experience of overall work stress. Further, stress arising from work-family conflicts, performance pressure and poor job prospects was negatively associated with the level of work satisfaction. These findings were discussed in the contexts of increasing professionalization and de-professionalization and the growing emphases on productivity and efficiency in a quickly developing economy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1415-1432
Number of pages18
JournalSocial Science and Medicine
Volume50
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 May 2000

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Health(social science)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

User-Defined Keywords

  • Professionals
  • Singapore
  • Work stress

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