scholarly journals Effects of Difficult Coworkers on Employees’ Responses in Macao’s Public Organizations—The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Wai-Ming To ◽  
Billy T. W. Yu

Difficult coworkers can be found in almost every workplace, including public and private organizations. This paper investigates the effects of difficult coworkers on employees’ responses including intention to leave and mental health through attitude towards difficult coworkers and perceived stress in public organizations. Data were collected from 307 public sector employees in Macao SAR, China. Results of partial least squares–structural equation modeling indicated that difficult coworkers significantly influenced their coworkers’ attitude towards them. Additionally, perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between employees’ attitudes towards difficult coworkers and intention to leave, while employees’ attitudes towards difficult coworkers did not have a significant effect on mental health. The study’s findings shed light on how difficult coworkers impacted employees’ attitudes, perceptions, and responses in Chinese public organizations.

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1795-1816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendry Raharjo ◽  
Henrik Eriksson

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between public and private organizations in the paths of business excellence models and to identify the key drivers for creating business results and customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The partial least squares structural equation modeling technique is used to compare the path coefficients and to identify the key driver constructs for creating business results. Findings The variation in endogenous constructs is found to be more difficult to explain or predict for private organizations than for public organizations, despite the fact that the performance of private organizations is almost always higher than or equal to the performance of public ones in all criteria. The effect of “leadership” on “management of processes” is significantly higher in public organizations than in private ones. However, “management of processes” in public organizations does not seem to translate into “results.” The effect of “strategic planning” on creating business “results” is negative for public organizations and remains inconclusive, due to insufficient evidence, for private organizations. Research limitations/implications The results may not be generally applicable to other countries. However, they do support the move toward more tailor-made models for specific sectors. Practical implications It is necessary to review the national business excellence model in order to fit specific sectors. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the differences between private and public organizations in the Swedish business excellence model.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Saleem ◽  
Abou Bakar ◽  
Areeha Khan Durrani ◽  
Zubair Manzoor

Background: Perceived severity of COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) is known to be associated with mental health of people in general and health professionals in particular in Western societies. However, its association with the mental health of students in Pakistan, which is predominantly a Muslim society, remains unclear so far. Moreover, the role of Muslim religiosity for such an association has not yet been investigated. We aimed to examine the association and report findings on the impact of perceived severity on mental health with a sample of students from all five provinces of Pakistan.Methods: We did a cross-sectional online survey from 1,525 Pakistani students in March 2020 using standardized measurement tools. We then determined the prevalence of perceived severity among students and its impact on their mental health. The strength of associations between these variables was estimated using generalized linear models, with appropriate distribution and link functions. Structural equation modeling through SmartPLS (3.0) software was utilized to analyze the results.Findings: The perceived severity of COVID-19 is significantly associated with mental health of Pakistani students, whereas Muslim religiosity is a strong mediator between perceived severity and mental health of Pakistani students.Conclusions: Though the perceived severity of COVID-19 is associated with mental health, this relationship can be better explained by the role of Muslim religiosity. When tested individually, the perceived severity accounted for only 18% variance in mental health that increased up to 57% by the mediating role of Muslim religiosity. This difference clearly indicates the mediating role of Muslim religiosity in the association between perceived severity and mental health for Pakistani students.


Author(s):  
Chang Liu ◽  
Melinda McCabe ◽  
Sebastian Kellett-Renzella ◽  
Shruthi Shankar ◽  
Nardin Gerges ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a decline in mental health globally. Compared to the general population, university students have been identified as a group vulnerable to developing depression symptoms during the pandemic. Social isolation, a signature mental health consequence under physical-distancing regulations, is a known predictor of depression symptoms during the pandemic. Yet, more research is required to understand the mechanism that underpins the isolation–depression association and identify psychological factors that may attenuate the association. The current study aimed to understand the role of stress and resilience in the isolation–depression association among university students. Methods: Data were collected from 1718 university students between 28 and 31 May 2020. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of resilience in the isolation–depression association. Results: We found that perceived stress partially mediated the association between social isolation and depression symptoms. Both the direct and indirect effects were moderated by participants’ resilience levels. Conclusions: Social isolation during the pandemic may contribute to depression symptoms both directly and through elevated stress levels. As an internal strength, resilience may buffer the adverse effects of isolation and stress on depression symptoms. Targeted interventions including mindfulness and physical exercise training may provide promising results in reducing depression symptoms among university students and should be considered by university administrators particularly during times of imposed physical-distancing measures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keita Kiuchi ◽  
◽  
Katsumasa Kishi ◽  
Kanto Araki

This study investigated the physical and psychological impacts of elements related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and demographic data in Japan both directly and as mediated by stressors, immediately following the rescinding of the state of emergency declaration accompanying the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak. An online survey was administered to 1,500 Japanese registered with an online outsourcing service. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using Mplus. Relatively large total effects were observed for “insufficient exercise” on physical health (β = –0.24, SE = 0.03), “mental health issues related to COVID-19” on mental health (β= –0.25, SE = 0.03) and psychological distress (β= 0.24, SE = 0.03), neuroticism on mental health (β= –0.30, SE = 0.02) and psychological distress (β= 0.36, SE = 0.02), and social support on suicidal ideation (β= –0.32, SE = 0.03). Thus, mitigating the harm resulting from the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 infection outbreak by raising awareness of risk factors and promoting social support is feasible.


Author(s):  
Maryam Karimi ◽  
Mahdieh Estabraghi ◽  
Ali Hosseinzadeh Oskouee ◽  
Somayeh Kazemian

Introduction: Mental health of adolescent girls as future mothers is of great importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of religious identity in the relationship between mother-child interaction and mental health of adolescent girls in Yazd, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on 319 female students, studying at the tenth to twelfth grades of high schools in Yazd. In this study, Parent-Child Relationship Survey (PCRS), the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and Lotf-Abadi National-Religious Identity Questionnaire were used. The structural equation modeling was used to analyze data using AMOS software version 25. Results: The findings of this study, using the method of structural equation modeling, showed that the quality of mother-child interaction had a direct and significant effect on both mental health disorder (β = -0.16, P< 0.001) and religious identity (β = 0.31, P< 0.001). In addition, the results showed that religious identity had a direct and significant effect on mental health disorder (β = -0.16, P< 0.001). Furthermore, religious identity played a mediator role in the relationship between mother-child interaction and mental health disorder (β = -0.05, P< 0.05).Multiple indices were used to evaluate the model and the results showed that the proposed model had goodness-of-fit. Conclusion: Religious identity, as a protecting resource, helps adolescents against the stress and dangers, which arise from the puberty-related problems and increases their mental health. A good mother-child relationship has direct and significant relationship with the religious identity of adolescent girls. Therefore, the quality of relationship with mother, as a result of the religious identity development, can increase the mental health of female adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Peng ◽  
Wensu Zhou ◽  
Dexin Zhou ◽  
Muyang Chu ◽  
Li Ling

The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of fatigue between mental health and its associated factors, including workload, social support, and occupational protection, among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. A national cross-sectional survey was performed to collect data from healthcare workers who have attended to patients with COVID-19. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to test the mediating effect of fatigue. The results indicated that fatigue was a significant mediator of mental health. The proportion of indirect effect with regards to the total effect of workload on mental health was 54.2%, significantly greater than other factors such as social support (19.7%) and occupational protection (23.4%). The findings confirmed that workload, social support, and occupational protection both had indirect and direct effects on mental health status through fatigue. To some extent, potential interventions designed to alleviate fatigue would reduce mental health problems among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Suzete Semedo ◽  
Arnaldo Coelho ◽  
Neuza Ribeiro

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceptions of authentic leadership (AL) and affective commitment (AC) both directly and indirectly through the mediating effect of happiness at work. Design/methodology/approach Empirical research has analyzed the data from a questionnaire administered to a sample of 543 employees belonging to various public and private organizations in Cape Verde. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model. Findings It was found that the perceptions of AL explain employees’ happiness at work. Perceptions of AL also predict AC both directly and through the mediating effect of happiness at work. Practical implications The findings suggest that AL predicts happiness at work, which, in turn, explain employees` emotional bond to the organization. These results provide evidence that the quality of working environment created by leaders plays an important role in the extent to which employees develop a better emotional bond at work. So, the organizations, particularly in Cape Verde, should focus on training leaders with authentic characteristics. Originality/value In addition to verifying the direct relationship between AL and AC, this study introduced the mediating effect of the happiness, providing a model that depicts the chain effect between AL, AC and happiness, integrating these concepts in a single study.


Author(s):  
Azeyan Awee ◽  
Farhana Hanim Mohsin ◽  
Zafir Khan Mohamed Makhbul

The aim of this paper is to link envy at the workplace to social loafing and to examine the role of self-esteem in moderating this relationship. Data was collected via a survey questionnaire from 393 employees working in public and private organizations in Malaysia. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. The results show that the higher the degree of workplace envy encountered, the higher the inclination for members to exert less effort while working in a team (social loafing), and this relationship is moderated by self-esteem. In addition, it is found that the relationship is better for low self-esteem workers relative to those high in self-esteem. In terms of workplace envy and avoidance of social loafing, the research provides important implications. Organizations should etablish a supportive workplace that encourages employees to be more involved and practice openness and give continued support. In a team culture especially, managers must play an active role by paying attention and being more sensitive towards circumstances that induce feelings of envy at work. By implementing a proper system and control, tendency towards workplace envy and social loafing can be mimimized.


2019 ◽  
Vol IV (III) ◽  
pp. 82-91
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Muhammad Usman Ghani ◽  
Basharat Raza

It is very important for the organization to keep its intellectual resources updated and ready for uncertain situations. This study aimed to explore the direct association between HR practices i.e. (job design, information flow, employee development, and employee benefits) and work happiness, and mediating role of employee resilience as well. The data were collected from 315 employees through self-administered questionnaires working in public and private sector banks of Lahore, Pakistan. The structural equation modeling analysis was employed for hypotheses testing. The result showed that HR Practices i.e. (job design, information flow, employee development, and employees benefits) were positively directly related to work happiness. HR practices also had indirect effect on work happiness through employee resilience. This study provided initial empirical evidence regarding the intervening effect of employee resilience among the association of HR practices and work happiness. The studys future directions and limitations are debated, further industry implications are also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijie Huang ◽  
Feijie Wang ◽  
Hongmei Zhang ◽  
Haixin Zhang ◽  
Xiaoxia Chang ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The relationship between uncertainty and self-care behaviors is well documented in the literature, however, there exists a paucity of information on the mediating effect of perceived stress on the relationship between uncertainty and self-care ability among enterostomy patients. This study aimed to examine the relationship between uncertainty and self-care ability among enterostomy patients, and explore the mediating role of perceived stress.Methods 462 enterostomy patients aged (60.00 ± 12.81) years old participated in the study. Cross-sectional study was conducted among them by a set of self-administered questionnaires, which includes demographic information, perceived stress scale, illness uncertainty scale, and ostomy self-care ability scale. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the role of perceived stress between Uncertainty and self-care ability, structural equation modeling was used to verify it.Results 450 participants finally completely finished the research, with the recycling rate of 97.4%. Uncertainty was demonstrated positively related to perceived stress(r = 0.215, P < 0.01), and negatively related to self-care ability(r=-0.470, P < 0.01), perceived stress was negatively related to self-care ability(r=-0.640, P < 0.01). Perceived stress played a partially mediating role between Uncertainty and self-care ability, which accounted 40.8 % of the total effect.Conclusions The findings present a conceptual model containing the mediated effects of perceived stress, which facilitated our understanding of the relationship among uncertainty, perceived stress, and self-care ability. Thus, perceived stress and uncertainty should be the focus, in order to improve self-care ability of the enterostomy patients.


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