Stress Management among Female Research Scholars in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: A Study

 

Manju Singh[1]

Dr. Mahender Pratap Singh[2]

Madhu Bala[3]

Abstract:

Stress is one of the most important workplace health risks for any person. The main focus of this article is the common set of stressors experienced by research scholars, with an emphasis on women and stress management. The paper specifically focuses on the stress, its cause and problems faced by female research scholars of BBAU, Lucknow. For data collection purpose, 132 structured questionnaires were distributed among female research scholars; total 99 responses were received who indicate 75% response of the respondents. The aim of the present paper examines the degree to which stressors such as conflict, workload, physical environment, career opportunities, Poor motivation, and relation with colleague and supervisor. The findings of the study indicate the favourable organisation climate.This article explores a range of sources of workplace stress and strategy for managing pressure at workplace.

Keywords: Stress, Stress Management, Stress Management Training, BBAU.

Introduction:  Most people are generally familiar with everyday stressors, or sources of stress.  In modern society, most stress is related to long-term emotional or psychological events; however, the typical “flight or fight” response does not work well in modern society because we cannot generally change these stresses, chronic stress results.This change can built up a pressure and this pressure in its full form is called stress.Stress can be defined as a state of physical and mental tension caused by certain external or internal factor in a person life. The art of stress management is to keep you at a level of stimulation that is healthy and enjoyable. Stress can be physical, psychological, or social, and can stem from virtually tan amount of stress that essentially translates into motivation. Positive stress any circumstance, depending on the person¹.

    This definition may appreciate that stress is a response which includes both physical and mental components. The physical responses include a host of psycho logic changes which largely fall into acute response and chronic response. Mental responses to stress include adaptive stress, anxiety and depression. Stress is defined as a response to a demand that is placed upon you². Stress in a normal reaction when your brain recognizes a threat.

Stress may cause mainly tree types:

• Physiological,
• Behavioral
• Psychological effects.

Simple technique to Manage Stress:  There are many ways to manage stress. Some constructive ways to deal with stress³:

• Recognize the symptoms of stress.
• Recognize any destructive behaviors that you may engage in to deal with stress.
• Recognize what has worked for you in the past in terms of stress management, and try to use those strategies when needed.
• Locate the source of stress, and address the source, in addition to the symptoms.
• Learn to accept what is realistically beyond your control.
• Include aerobic, physical activity as a part of your weekly routine.
• Take care of yourself (eating regular healthful meals; sleeping; resting; exercising; take time for fun & relaxation, Talk to someoneetc).

Objectives of the Study:

• To examine stress management among female research scholars in BBAU.
• To identify causes of stress among female research scholar.
• To find out Problems faced by research scholars in BBAU.
• To find out how many Research Scholars face stress in working environment.

Scope of the Study: The study is based on the Stress management among female research scholar in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. I have covered 8 Schools under all departments in this study, 8 school namely School for Ambedkar Studies,  Information Science & Technology, Environmental Sciences, Bio-Sciences & Bio-technology, Legal Studies, Physical Sciences, Management Studies and Home Sciences. Primary Data was collected by using questionnaire.

University Profile:  Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) was established in Lucknow in 1996 as Central University (By an Act of Parliament 1994) with the objects of promoting advance knowledge by instructional and research facilities in science, key and frontier areas of technology and other allied disciplines entire state of Uttar Pradesh. As one of the chief objectives of the University to cater to, and promote, the educational needs of the marginalized people, particularly the SC/ST communities and Women providing instructional and research facilities , to promote advance knowledge by providing higher standards of instructional and research facilities. The courses that are offered are not only based on the perspective of building a strong resume but also to give education on the economic and social front⁴.

Research Methodology: the field research was conducted in female research scholars of BBAU. 132 Structured questionnaires personally distributed among the respondent so, total 99 questionnaires were received. The measurement instrument was thoroughly evaluated before released. All the data were subsequently examined, observed analysed and tabulated for making observations are used as a source.

Review of related literature: Rajasekhar & Sasikala (2013)⁵ defined stress  make a person more susceptible to disease, which then aggravates any existing illness or chronic condition such as heart disease, depression, ulcers, irritable bowel disease, diabetics, the common cold, urinary tract infections. Ahmed & Ramazan (2013)⁶ surved Five major sources of stress High workload, Uncertainty about getting job after graduating, Competition with fellow students, High expectations from my parents.Micieli (2012)⁷ find the big surprise in this study was that as the age of the correctional officer increased and as their seniority increased their stress decreased.Alqahtani, (2012)⁸ find out the cause and management for Organizational Stress. He concluded that complete prevention of stress is neither possible nor desirable since life is lifeless without stress.Sadia (2012)⁹ studied Stress Management among labours. Survey result depicts that people are encountering some physical and psychological problems while they are under stress.Araxia & Elisa, (2011)¹⁰ indicated stress management tips for graduate students to impact on their stress levels due to the economy. Dhanabhakyam (2010)¹¹ examined distress due to personal and organizational sources. And find that child care and looking after the family members, recognition for hard work are the major factors which cause distress among the working women. Reynolds (2004)¹² suggested that there are many ways that individuals deal with stress in their lives, ranging from individual self-care to peer-based support networks. Perhaps the most important parts of managing the many sources of stress inherent in agriculture today are to recognize them; to take active steps to control unnecessary stressors; and to maintain the balance between distress (negative stress), and stress, (positive stress).

Analysis and Interpretation of Data:

Table: 1. Response of Female Researchers

Table: 2. Stress Symptoms

Table 2 shows that the stress symptom from Aches and Pains is (7.35) and High Blood Pressure of total no. of percentage (3.09) Poor Sleep Patterns (14.11) Asthma of total percentage (10.83) Anxiety of total percentage (5.09) and Depression of patent (18.76)Heart Disease of patent  (11.21)change in appetite of patent (16.20) lack of Confident of patent (13.34)

Table: 3. While working do you ever feel

The above table shows 9.4% female research scholar feel exhaustion while they work. Or 19.7% feel headache or 14.8% female research scholars feel fever or 14.7 % feel angry or 14.7% feel frustration or 14.11% feel helpless or 9.8% feel anxious 16.05% feel depression or 11.05% feel unable to concentrate and remain 17.02% feel over tried.

Table: 4. have you taken any leave in the last one year due to worker related stress

The above table shows 86.3% female research scholars have taken a few days leave due to stress or 5.7% female research scholars have taken one week leave due to stress or 4.3% research scholars have taken two weeks leave Duse to stress and remain 2.9% female research scholars have taken longer leave due to work related stress.

 

Table: 5. How to Handle Stress Situations

The  table and graph shows 28.57% female research scholars optimistically handle stress situations or 16.32% female research scholars handle stress situation with the help of others or 55.1% research scholars depends upon time they can handle or not.

Table: 6. Source of Stress

The above table  shows 76.08% female research scholar have stress from high workload or 2.17% scholars have stress from competition with others researchers or  10.86% scholars have stress from poor motivation or remain 7.6% research scholars have stress from lack of proper guidance.

Table: 7 Problems faced by female Researchers

The above table and graph shows 24.21% female research scholars faced problem in field work or 4.21% female research scholars faced problem from family 1.05 % faced problem from friends or 65.26% faced problem from research work or 1.05 % research scholars faced problem from research deemed too much physically and remain 4.21% research scholars faced problem from any other reason.

Table: 8. Stress Situation in working Organization

The above table and graph shows 6.12% female research scholar mostly feel stress situation in working organization or 13.26% female research scholars feel rarely stress situation in working organization or 75.51% female research scholars feel sometime stress situation in working hour and remain 5.1 % female research scholars fee not at all.

Table: 9. Stress Related to various cause/problem

The above fig. shows 39.6% female research scholar feel stress related to working environment or 1 % research scholars feel stress related to supervisor or 24.75% research scholars feel stress related to working group or 17.8 % research scholars feel stress related to social injustice or 16.83% female research scholars feel stress related to social evil.

Table: 10. Level of Stress management

The above table and graph shows 8.24% female research scholars wants completely level of stress or 20.61% female research scholars wants certain level of stress management or 64.94% female research scholars wants satisfactory level of stress management and remain responses on not at all.

Table: 11. Questions Related To Stress

Above Table and graph shows that18.96% female research scholars are satisfied with research scholar’s prestige or 1 % female research scholars feel harassment from their subordinate or 10.12 % research scholars feel their supervisor treats them fairly or 18.75% research scholars say that their relation with the library staff is good or 16.81% are satisfied with the efficiency of  co-workers or 17.02% say that their colleagues (male) is appropriate and remain 17.88% female research scholars say their co-workers are helpful in performing duties.

Table: 12. Research work in hours per Week

The above table and graph shows 9.23% female research scholars spend below 15 hours per week on their research work or 63.07% female research scholars spend 16-30 hours per week on their research work or 10.76% female research scholars spend 31-45 hours per week on their research work and remain 16.92% spend above than 46hours per week on their research work.

Findings: The major findings of the study are as follows:

•  The majority of the research scholars 70% are facing stress in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
• The stress symptom among female research scholar, 18.76% suffering from Depression, 15.34% have lack of Confident during her research work.
• 9.4% female research scholar feel exhaustion while they work, 19.7% feel headache, 16.05% feel depression ,14.7 % feel angry and frustration, 14.11% feel helpless and only 9.8% feel anxious.
• 86.3% female research scholars have taken a few days leave due to stress and only 2.9% female research scholars have taken longer leave due to work related stress.
• 75.51% female research scholars feel sometime stress situation in working hour.
• 39.6% female research scholar feel stress related to working environment , 16.83% feel stress related to social evil and only 1 % research scholars feel stress from supervisor.
• 18.96% female research scholars are satisfied with research scholar’s prestige and 17.02% females say that their colleagues (male) is appropriate and remain 17.88% female research scholars say their co-workers are helpful in performing duties.

Conclusion:This study concludes that the majority of the research scholars 70% are facing stress in BBAU. Results showed that conflict, heavy workload and lack of autonomy are negatively associated with all satisfaction dimensions. The findings of this study are valuable for female researchers as well as University, to redesign the new strategy for females research scholars like various services, working environment, Fellowship, other curriculum activities and other benefits, better status, preparation and resources for correctional females and research scholar, both inside and outside the prisons environment. The statistical data are very useful and authentic source for planning to improve the status of female research scholars serving in the country. The findings of this study can be utilized to evaluate the level of stress of female researchers serving in this university.

Suggestions:

• It is to suggest that during stress please maintain your confidence and optimistic.
• Schedule time for vacation, breaks in your routine, hobbies, and fun activities.
• Provide friendly and healthy environment during working hours.
• Yoga and Meditation class, Games and sports facilities, motivated lecturers, games should be conductor.
• Organized workshop related to health.
• Rules and regulation must be followed and inspection should be done by higher authorities regarding the work environment of the female research scholar.

References:

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