Prevalence and predictors of occupational stress among quarry workers in rural Rajasthan, India
| Pages | 132-143 |
| Date | 18 December 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-03-2017-0008 |
| Published date | 18 December 2017 |
| Author | Absar Ahmad |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Public mental health |
Prevalence and predictors of occupational
stress among quarry workers in rural
Rajasthan, India
Absar Ahmad
Abstract
Purpose –Despite increasing recognition of the importance of mental health at the workplace, there is very
little evidence and limited research information on the issue of the poor mental health of the workers,
especially miners. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between stress faced by quarry
workers in consonance with their socio-demographic characteristics and their working conditions.
Design/methodology/approach –This study was a cross-sectional study of quarry workers with
comparison groups in the Karauli district of Rajasthan, a state located in north-western India. The study was
conducted during the period May-September 2014, as part of a doctoral program. The study sample
comprised a total of 218 quarry workers along with a comparison group of 203 non-miners. The level of
occupational stress was assessed by using a General Health Questionnaire consisting of 12 questions.
Findings –This studyfound that the comparison group was at a low risk of psychologicalstress as compared
to the mineworkers. The independentrisk factors for occupationalstress among workerswere illiteracy, gender
(female), married, divorced/separated, and suffering from some occupational health problem.
Social implications –This study concluded that mine workers are at a high level of stress, which
underscores the need for urgent interventions from the government to address the issue. This is especially
important as mine workers make significant contributions to the national income.
Originality/value –This paper fulfills an identified need to study the mental health status of quarry workers,
thereby helping fill a persistent gap in Indian research on this issue.
Keywords India, Occupational stress, Occupational hazards, Quarry workers
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Stress at work is associated with significanteconomic and human costs, as it leads to an increase
in increasing absenteeism, decreasein job satisfaction, and deterioration in the health of workers
(Leka and Jain, 2010). Occupational stress is a known health risk for a range of psychological,
behavioral,and medical disorders anddiseases (Quick and Henderson,2016). There is a tendency
to neglect the physical environmental factors despite the fact that such factors can influence the
worker not onlyphysically, but also psycho-socially (Levi, 1984).Contemporary research on stress
in the work environment typically focuses on psychosocial factors that affect job performance,
strain and employee health, and does not address the issues of work-related stress and the
physical work environment in which the work is performed (Vischer, 2007).
Research suggests that the characteristics of the physical environment of the workplace do
have a marked and measureable impact upon a worker’s well-being and behavior (Hassard and
Cox, 2017). Apart from the working environment, mental stress is also most heavily concentrated
among workers with lower income, lower education, fewer skills, and less prestigious jobs than
their peers (NIOSH, 1988). Certain population sub-groups are at higher risk of mental disorders
because of their greater exposure and vulnerability to unfavorable social, economic, and
environmental circumstances (WHO, 2014).
Received 15 March 2017
Revised 10 June 2017
Accepted 6 July 2017
Absar Ahmad is based at
Department of Development
Studies, Giri Institute of
Development Studies,
Lucknow, India.
PAGE132
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JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
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VOL. 16 NO. 4 2017, pp. 132-143, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729 DOI 10.1108/JPMH-03-2017-0008
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