MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS: STUDY OF TEACHERS AND SOFTWARE PROFESSIONALS WORKING FROM HOME
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Date
2023-07-13
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ACHARYA NG RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
The work from home concept is one of the various ways of flexible work arrangement apart of part time work system. The COVID-19 pandemic has different every aspect of work and life. In response to the national and local containment policies, companies, organizations and institutions encouraged their employees to work remotely at home to stay safe during the pandemic. Many companies believed that work from home will become more common after the pandemic due to the fact that employers have already paid the fixed cost to set up remote work systems for their employees. The extended stay at home during the pandemic may contribute to general depressed and anxious feelings, physical activities and mental well-being changes in their daily life.
The covid-19 pandemic has affected the well-being of the people. Particularly the physical and psychological well-being was found to be affected in all the age-groups. Due to the covid-19 guidelines issued by the government employees remained inside the house and continued to work through online mode. Similarly students were made to attend the classes through online. Comparatively software professionals and teachers affected more due to new modes of working from home. The survey reported that employees are facing more stress and pressure due to this pandemic situation which has badly affected their mental health. The individual who lives alone without face-to-face interactions and social
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support every day suffered from mental issues and depression. Balancing work-life was difficult for few people as they had to take care of children, share household responsibilities in between their work. In this pandemic female worker suffered more depression because of their increased responsibilities. They had to sacrifice their sleep hours and work at night or early mornings.
During covid-19 pandemic all the schools, companies, colleges and organizations were closed and shifted to work from home which has increased stress among employees, which intern effected physical and psychological well-being. The current study attempts to study stress levels, physical and mental health, coping strategies and problems and prospects of teaching and Information technology professionals working from home in Andhra Pradesh.
The study was done in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh State. The sample of the study consisted of 120 respondents among which 60 were software professionals and 60 were teachers with an equal number of men and women. The age group of respondents was 25-35 years. By using a developed general information schedule, Questionnaire on problems and prospects of working from home, Stress scale by Surbhi Sharma and Manisha Kumar Sharma (2019), P.G.I Health questionnaire N-1 (PGIHQN-1) by Verma, N.N.Wig and D.Pershad (1985), Coping strategies scale by prof. A.K.Srivastava (2001) the data was collected. Purposive and snowball technique was used select the respondents. Exploratory and retrospective research design was adopted for the study. The teachers (25-35 years) were selected from schools and colleges located in selected mandalas of West Godavari district. Similarly the software professionals were selected from the family members, friends and relatives using a snowball technique method.
The current study revealed that the teachers had low levels of stress compared to software professionals as software professionals had increased workload, uncomfortable working environment, nightshifts, targets based work. However no significant difference between stress levels of teachers and software professionals was found. Significant difference in physical and mental health of teaching and IT professionals was observed. The teaching employees had both good physical health and mental health compared to software professionals. Teachers and software professionals adapted coping strategies to accept the situation, by spending time with family members. Software professionals suffered more health problems and psychological problems compared to teachers. The teachers had social and technical problems compared to software professionals. No significant difference was found in the type of coping strategies adapted by teachers and IT professionals. There was a positive and significant relationship between age and mental health, education and stress, marital status and physical, mental health of software professionals and negative relationship between age and mental health of teachers.
Description
MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS: STUDY OF TEACHERS AND SOFTWARE PROFESSIONALS WORKING FROM HOME