Abstract:
Despite the enormerous growth in research on personality due to
the development of big five personality model, still there is inadequate
research among the organizations in Jaffna context. This study attempts to
fill the gap by exploring the effects of the personality traits on job stress. This
study examined the “Big Five” personality dimensions in relation to Job
Stress by surveying a sample of 38 staff at Regional Directorate of Health
Services Office, Jaffna. The objective of this study was to examine the effects
of personality variables (extraversion, conscientiousness, openness,
agreeableness and neuroticism) on job stress among the staff working in the
Regional Directorate of Health Services Office. The study was based on self
reported questionnaire. The „Big Five‟ traits of personality were measured
using Goldberg‟s (1999b) International Personality Item Pool (IPIP). Stress
was assessed with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) (Cohen, Kamarck and
Mermelstein, 1983). The analysis of data included assessments of reliability,
correlations and regression analysis. Analyses of responses revealed that
conscientiousness and openness were found to have significant and negative
impact on job stress. Neuroticism, on the other hand, had significant positive
impact on job stress. This study gives an understanding of the influence of
personality variables on job stress of employees. From the findings, the
management of Regional Directorate of Health Services Office can consider
the personality potentials of the staff and focus on the type of personality to
be developed among the staff. In addition, during the interview process, top
management can consider certain personality characteristics, specifically
those who exhibit high conscientiousness and openness traits and low
neuroticism. Given that there may be other personality factors that also
affect and moderate job stress related outcomes, researchers interested in
this area should try to explore these factors in future.
