A cross-sectional study of behavioural style and associated work- related stress in the South African context
Date
2002
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Abstract
This study examines the distribution of the behavioural dimensions measured by the Style Analysis Instrument. Research previously conducted in the USA is compared with the South African data collected. The distribution of the dimensions, Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance (DISC) in the South African genders and the Afrikaans, Black, English and Indian population groups is investigated. Data were collected from three organisations that process the Style Analysis questionnaires, and analysed to ascertain significant differences between the various groups, and correlations between the various behavioural dimensions. Significant differences were found between the USA sample and the SA sample, while lesser differences were found within the SA subgroups. Based on the research of Warburton and Suiter, which established that a disparity between the Adapted Style, i.e. the behavioural style of the individual in the workplace, and the Natural Style, i.e. the inherent behavioural style of the individual, is a predictor of stress in the workplace, an investigation was conducted to discover which South African gender or population group experiences the most stress in the workplace. Overall, the female gender and the Black population group manifest the highest stress indicators within the South African context.
Description
Dissertation submitted for partial fulfillment for the degree Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, 2002.
Keywords
Job stress--South Africa., Work--Psychological aspects., Stress at work