COMPETITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT, JOB PERFORMANCE, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN PAKISTANI WORKING WOMEN

Abstract

A competitive work environment significantly influences a person’s attitude, behavior, mental health, and job performance. The current study aimed to explore psychological stress and job performance among women working in a competitive environment and to find out moderating role of coping strategies on this association. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 women aged 25-60, selected through non-probability purposive sampling, and working in different public and private sector institutes in Lahore, Pakistan. Demographic information sheet along with Competitive Work Environment Scales (Fletcher & Nusbaum, 2010), The Individual Work Performance Scale (Koopmans, 2015), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) (Kessler 1996), and Brief COPE (Carver, 1997) were employed for the data collection. Descriptive statistics, pearson correlation analysis, moderation analysis, and regression analysis were employed to examine the relationship among study variables. Results revealed that competitive work environment has a significant positive correlation with job performance, coping strategies, and psychological distress. Additionally coping was found as having a significant negative correlation with psychological distress. A competitive work environment was found as a significant predictor of psychological distress. Moderation analysis showed that coping was a significant moderator for psychological distress and job performance. Moreover, findings revealed that competitive work environment was found a non-significant moderator for both psychological distress and job performance. The use of some effective stress management workshops and training can help minimize workplace stress and improve employee's professional performance to a significant level.