Correlations among Work Stressors, Work Stress Responses, and Subjective Well-Being of Civil Servants: Empirical Evidence from China

Abstract

Background: The work stress of civil servants has gradually increased as a result of the modernization of China’s national governance system and capacity. However, research on the correlations among work stressors, work stress responses, and subjective well-being (SWB) of civil servants is scarce.
 Methods: In accordance with the current research status on work stress and SWB, a survey of 874 civil servants in China was carried out from May to June 2018. The revised stress response questionnaire of civil servants, work stressors questionnaire of civil servants, and a simplified edition of the SWB scale of China’s urban residents were used in this study.
 Results: Superiors impose the major work pressure on civil servants, followed by interpersonal relationship, work particularity, career prospect, work task, perfectionism, and job responsibility. The work stressors of civil servants were significantly related to gender, age, marital status, working years, educational background, and position (P<0.05). The work stressors of civil servants were significantly positively correlated with work stress responses (P<0.05). The work stressors and work stress responses had a significantly negative correlation with SWB.
 Conclusion: SWB can be accurately predicted by work stressors and work stress responses. These findings can provide references and guidance for the society and government sectors to accurately understand and cope with the treatment of civil servants, formulate work stress management countermeasures, and create a high-level working environment for civil servants.

Effect of Resilience on Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Grass-roots Civil Servants: The Mediating and Moderating Model

“…Previous studies have suggested that gender, education, relationship with coworkers, physical exercise and monthly income have an effect on stress in different countries and in different people [27][28][29][30][31]. In China, male generally feel heavy stress than female ones, which conforms to the results of other surveys [32,33].…”

“…The goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in China, with the implementation of the accountability system and the reform of rank promotion, led to more rigorous assessment standards and the rare chance of promotion in civil servants [1]. In this case, civil servants constantly faced the pressure of occupation, individual and society [2]. Studies have shown that the special work pressure of civil servants is related to the mental health such as depression and anxiety of civil servants [3][4][5].…”

“…Studies have shown that the special work pressure of civil servants is related to the mental health such as depression and anxiety of civil servants [3][4][5]. More than 50% of Japanese civil servants have received compensation for mental disorders since 2000 [2]. However, the mental health problems of gross-roots civil servants have not fully been explored.…”

“…The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating and mediating effects of resilience between stress and depression and anxiety in civil servants. The hypotheses were as follows: (1) Resilience will mediate the relationship between stress, depression and anxiety, respectively, and that (2) the relationship between stress, depression and anxiety will be modified by resilience. By exploring these hypotheses, we hope to understand the mechanisms of the influence of resilience on stress, depression and anxiety, and to further provide a scientific basis for the development and implementation of mental health improvement strategies for civil servants.…”

Identification of occupational stress factors of commissioning workers in nuclear power plants based on a bottom-up survey design and factor analysis

“…Sackey and Sanda [12] identified the work-related stressors as the key predictors of women managers' ill-health in the work environment using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Beck's Anxiety Inventory, and the Occupational Stress Indicator. Zhang et al [13] identified the work stressors of civil servants by the revised work stress questionnaires, which stressors were sorted by interpersonal relationship, work particularity, career prospect, work task, perfectionism, and job responsibility. Barbaranelli et al [14] identified the risks associated with work stress by the revised selfadministered questionnaire.…”