6.
1 Methods and strategies adopted by private and government universities
To assess which methods and strategies are adopted by private and government university
teachers, a descriptive study was conducted to maximize the contextual understanding.
Followed by descriptive study, the data was collected in two forms which included seven
close ended questions followed by one open ended question to contemplate the methods and
strategy used by government and private university teachers.
6.1.1 Importance of stress management
All workers have the fundamental right to have a safe and healthy work environment. It is
essential to manage the stress in the workplace and reduce stress. In this context, WHO has
laid down the recommendations to provide a safe and healthy work environment for the
employers and workers. (WHO, 2022), recommends that employers by implementing
intervention in the organization must attempt to mitigate, adjust and remove the risk
associated with mental health. The intervention in the organization can includes flexible
working arrangements and implementing mechanisms to deal with work harassments and
violence. To promote and protect mental health, WHO recommends that training for workers
and managers should be organized for developing mental health awareness and interpersonal
skills. The WHO suggests that sufficient funds must be invested by employers for mental
health and workers should be involved in decision making. The regulatory authority also
suggests that mental health must be integrated into the work policies to promote mental
health in the workplace.
6.1.2 Stress management strategies
Increased level of job stress is related to decrease in quality of life of a worker, adverse
impacts of health on account of increased risk of mental disorders and cardiovascular disease.
Increased absenteeism and adverse financial performance of the company. To cope up with
the stress, exercise is one of strong approach for coping with stress issues in general. Stress
management strategies exert a positive impact on the mental health of employees (Park &
Min Kyeong Jang, 2019). According to organizational psychologists, the following stress
management strategies tend to show effective outcomes for managing the stress.
Deploy effective problem-solving skills: Solving the problem effectively helps in ensuring
the management of stress successfully. The problem-solving skills constitute outlining the
problems, approaching the issue in logical manner, obtaining relevant information and
finding effective outcomes by contemplating the alternatives and choosing the option and
assessing the outcomes of one’s action.
Differentiate between importance and urgency: The tasks must be segregated into four
sections which includes tasks which are both urgency and importance, tasks that could be
important but not urgent, tasks that could be urgent but not important, tasks that neither could
be urgent or important. The task must be prioritised on the basis of relevance not urgency to
reduce the job stress of employees (Vaishnavi, 2016).
Maintaining work life balance
With advancement of technology, it seems that all employees are connected to work when
tends to create an imbalance in work and personal live. It is essential to support the
employees in maintaining a balancing work-life by introducing the appropriate break
schedule during work time. Another relevant strategy is to allocate the work accordingly
which helps to save personal time of employees by being more productive during official
hours. Furthermore, it is essential to avoid multitasking as well as enhancing the focus on the
work in hand (Enebe, 2024).
Time management techniques
To support the employees in prioritizing the task and reduce the stress while handling
multiple tasks at the same time. This will support the employees in remain focussed and plan
the time appropriately. Good time management must be approached to give them time to
recharge (Park & Min Kyeong Jang, 2019).
Set realistic goals and expectations
The goals and expectations should be established which help the employees to reduce and
manage stress. It is essential that common goal must breakdown into smaller task which will
help the employees to relieve the stress of feeling that a lot of task needs to be completed at
once. Furthermore, the working life is full of surprises which might stop while working on
the goals set earlier. The timetable will bring adaptability by keeping the stress under control
(Enebe, 2024).
Developing supportive environment
Supportive work environment is one of the critical success factors primarily in the domain of
knowledge management. The supportive work environment is essential and assess what
elements lead to create a supportive work culture. In this context, management should
provide opportunities for intellectual stimulations as well as provide them with autonomy
and decision-making authority. Management should implement short term programs to help
them in achieving improvement which includes knowledge and fun based activity,
recreational programs, public speaking as well as execute long term programs specifically
for knowledge management in sustainable manner. The supportive work environment
conditions such as light, noise level as well as quality of air along with psychological
elements of workplace should be employed to develop supportive work culture.
6.1.3 Stress management methods
To cope up the stress mechanisms, it is essential to implement the activities which helps t
relief the stress. The following short term and long-term stress management methods
(techniques) must be used to relive the stress of employees and ensure that they can have
good work life balance.
Short term stress management methods
Short term stress management method lays emphasis on calming the mind and body of the
person so that they can easily face and adjust to stressful event.
Meditation and mindfulness practice
Meditation refers to the approach where a technique such as meditation is used to help the
team members to focus on specific activity or thought. It is one of the greatest techniques to
develop awareness and remain focused during busy and stressful life. Mindfulness is another
effective practice which helps team members to remain focussed in non-judgemental manner
and live at present with connected mind and soul (Enebe, 2024).
Open communication
Open communication is another effective technique to approach the issue with open
communication as well as offering other resources to deal with the issues related to menial
health in the workplace. The open communication must be fostered between managers and
team members. Employees cab be educated about the mental health issues and discuss with
them about the issues and offer them suggestion on how to deal with the negativity and
mental health issues in the workplace (Enebe, 2024).
Seeking professional help
In order to reduce stress and anxiety, seeking professional help is another effective practice to
reduce stress. Psychiatrists are mental health experts which offer them blended treatments in
the form of medications and therapy to deal with diverse mental disorders. The experts aim to
provide a rooted personal development as well as overcome emotional issues. The
professional support can be sourced from counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists. They
can play a significant role in treating and finding a solution to diverse range of mental health
issues.
Long term stress management methods
Long term stress management methods lay emphasis to ease the repercussions of chronic
stress.
Developing coping mechanism skills
Stress coping mechanisms such as approaching art therapy, sense of autonomy, maintaining
work-life balance are impactful techniques to remain productive while working. The primary
approach is to train the employees to lead how to stay mental calm which includes meditation
as well as mindfulness. The primary notion is not to relief stress from the problem source but
reduce the influence of stress in the workplace. Furthermore, self-care activities as well as
stimulate meditation techniques can help the people to handle regular tasks effectively. More
specifically, yoga is one of the specific types of exercise to relief from stress as well as lay
focus on mindfulness as well as deep breathing. Developing effective coping skills is a
continuous process to manage work and prevent from stress converting into depression
(Enebe, 2024).
Promoting mental health
The mental health of the employees in the organization is hampered where the stress is
increased beyond an optimum level. In order to promote mental health in the organization,
cultural awareness must be created and make essential judgements in the workplace to help
employees recognize the issue and deal with it. Similar to physical help, the mental health
support is equally relevant to facilitate the team members to deal with issues of mental health
in non-judgemental manner (Park & Min Kyeong Jang, 2019).
Promoting emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is one of the effective approaches to help the employees to deal with
their thoughts as well as behaviour through the self-reflection process in long run. However,
time is important considerations in offering emotional intelligence to other team members.
By cultivating patience and supporting the team members to self-regulate their behaviour to
balanced stage. Engaging with others through communication helps up to gain confidence
about their potentialities. The study has indicated that there exists positive association
between high level of emotional intelligence as well improved person as well as professional
association. Emotional intelligence helps in stimulating empathy, communication as well
potential to develop strong relationship which are essential in the workplace (Enebe, 2024).
6.2 Descriptive statistics of Survey Items
The respondents were asked about the stress management strategies and method adopted by
government and private university teachers. Their responses to the question have been
summarized through findings below:
Management interested to reduce stress
The interest of management is important to reduce the stress of teachers in the workplace
since teaching is one of the stressful professions which can adversely impact the productivity
and mental health. The teachers were enquired about whether the Management is interested to
reduce stress or not.
Crosstab summary
G67Managementinterestedt
oreducestress Total
Yes No
A1Type of University Government Count 205 95 300
universities
% of Total 34.2% 15.8% 50.0%
Private Count 216 84 300
universities
% of Total 36.0% 14.0% 50.0%
Total Count 421 179 600
% of Total 70.2% 29.8% 100.0%
The data analysis indicate that 205 (34.2%) government university teachers and 216 (36.0%)
private university teachers responded that management of their university has expressed their
interest to reduce the stress. Combined together 70.2% sample expressed that management of
university are interest to reduce the stress.
Recreational cultural activities frequently organised
The recreational activities are significant for relieving the stress of teachers in the
instructional setting. The teachers were enquired that whether recreational cultural activities
are fequently organized or not.
Crosstab summary
G68recreationalculturalactivitie
sfrequentlyorganised
Yes No Total
A1TypeofUniversity Government Count 244 56 300
universities
% of
40.7% 9.3% 50.0%
Total
Private Count 258 42 300
universities
% of
43.0% 7.0% 50.0%
Total
Total Count 502 98 600
% of
83.7% 16.3% 100.0%
Total
The data analysis indicate that 244 (40.7%) government university teachers and 258 (43.0%)
private university teachers responded that recreational cultural activities are frequently
organised. Combined together 83.7% sample expressed that recreational cultural activities are
organized on frequent basis.
Recreational cultural activities help you feel better
The recreational cultural activities are productive only when it helps the teachers to improve
perormance and relive from stress. The teachers were enquired that whether recreational
cultural activities helps to make the teachers feel better or not.
Crosstab
Recreational cultural activities
help you feel better
Yes No Total
A1TypeofU Government universities Count 268 32 300
niversity
% of Total 44.7% 5.3% 50.0%
Private universities Count 262 38 300
% of Total 43.7% 6.3% 50.0%
Total Count 530 70 600
% of Total 88.3% 11.7% 100.0%
The data analysis indicate that 268 (44.7%) government university teachers and 262 (43.7%)
private university teachers responded that recreational cultural activities help you feel better.
Combined together 88.3% sample expressed that recreational cultural activities help you feel
better.
University organised workshop Seminars to reduce stress
The workshops play an important role in imparting the training to teachers on how to avoid
multitasking, prioritizing the task and managing the time well. The teachers were enquired
whether the university organise workshop and seminars to reduce stress or not.
Crosstab Summary
G70universityorganisedw
orkshopseminarstoreduces
tress
Yes No Total
A1TypeofUniversit Govern Count 228 72 300
y ment
% of Total
universi
38.0% 12.0% 50.0%
ties
Private Count 250 50 300
universi
% of Total 41.7% 8.3% 50.0%
ties
Total Count 478 122 600
% of Total 79.7% 20.3% 100.0%
The data analysis indicate that 228 (38.0%) government university teachers and 250 (41.7%)
private university teachers responded that university organized workshops to reduce the
stress. Combined together 79.7% sample expressed that university organized workshops to
reduce the stress.
Counselling organised by university prove helpful
Counselling plays an important role in providing guidance to teachers who are facing
difficulty in meeting the demands of teaching profession and it is adversely impacting their
mental health. The teachers were enquired whether the counselling organized by university
provel helpful for them.
Crosstab
G71counsellingorganisedbyuni
versityprovehelpful
Yes No Total
A1TypeofUniversity Govern Count 202 98 300
ment
% of Total
universit
33.7% 16.3% 50.0%
ies
Private Count 200 100 300
universit
% of Total 33.3% 16.7% 50.0%
ies
Total Count 402 198 600
% of Total 67.0% 33.0% 100.0%
The data analysis indicate that 202 (33.7%) government university teachers and 200 (33.3%)
private university teachers responded that university organized workshops to reduce the
stress. Combined together 79.7% sample expressed that university organized workshops to
reduce the stress.
Physical stress management strategies
The physical stress management strategies play a significant role in management and
relieving the stress of university teachers. The teachers were enquired whether the phsycial
stress management strategies such as playing games, practicing yoga and taking out time for
leisure are organized or not.
Crosstab
G72Physicalstressmanage
mentstrategies
Yes No Total
A1TypeofUniversity Governm Count 240 60 300
ent
% of Total
universiti
40.0% 10.0% 50.0%
es
Private Count 266 34 300
universiti
% of Total 44.3% 5.7% 50.0%
es
Total Count 506 94 600
% of Total 84.3% 15.7% 100.0%
The data analysis indicate that 240 (40.0%) government university teachers and 266 (44.3%)
private university teachers responded that physical stress management strategies are
organized to reduce the stress. Combined together 84.3% sample indicated that physical
stress management strategies are organized in both the universitiesto reduce the stress.
Mental stress management strategies
In addition to physical stress management strategies, mental health stress management
strategies are significant to handle stress. The teachers were enquired whether mental stress
management strategies such as listening songs, watching music, rereation, social gathering,
canting prayers and mantras are organized by teachers to reduce the stress or not.
G73Mentalstressmanagementstr
ategies
Yes No Total
A1TypeofUniver Government universities Count 228 72 300
sity
% of Total 50.0
38.0% 12.0%
%
Private universities Count 238 61 300
% of Total 50.0
39.7% 10.2%
%
Total Count 466 133 600
% of Total 100.
77.7% 22.2%
0%
The data analysis indicate that 228 (38.0%) government university teachers and 238 (39.7%)
private university teachers responded that mental stress management strategies are used to
reduce the stress. Combined together 77.7% sample expressed that both the universities
organize mental stress management strategies to relieve the stress of university teachers.
6.3 Open End Question
The responses to the questioners were gathered from open ended question framed in
questionnaire. The focus on the open-end question was to contemplate the strategies and
methods adopted by government and private university teachers. In the qualitative interview
transcripts, 6 single codes matching the question of methods and strategies were adopted by
private and government universities to reduce the stress and 6 single codes matching the
stress management activities were recognized and segregated into nine themes. In the
following section, main themes have been defined.
Recreational Activities: The respondents reported that recreational activities are
organized by the universities on timely basis to reduce the stress level of teachers since
universities studies are at time a stressful time period.
Festival celebrations: Another segment of respondents reported that at times
Gurpurab celebrations and other significant festivals are organized by universities to help
teachers celebrate happiness and reduce their stress level. Festival celebrations have
immensely helped the teachers to get over the stress and revive the energy levels after
stressful week.
Counselling session: Few groups of respondents reported that there exist counselling
centres in their universities to address their psychological issues at workplace. Further,
counselling sessions are organized by experts to discuss the issues and recommend the
valuable solution depending upon the issues encountered.
Meetings and conferences: Meetings and conferences specifically review meetings
were feedbacks are provided by the department are scheduled on timely basis so that all the
teachers can discuss the issues which are troubling them in their workplace and leading to
stress. The review meetings where feedbacks provided by the departments are extremely
useful to cope up with the job stress.
Yoga, meditation sessions respondents reported that from time-to-time yoga,
meditations are organized for the teachers to help them to reorganize their energy levels. For
instance, one of the respondents responded that online yoga class for 2-3 days was organized
by GADVAU in collaboration with DC Ludhiana in some universities. Yoga and meditation
sessions are immensely helpful for enhancing the mental well-being of teachers.
Short trips: Few respondents responded that short leisure trips are organized because
organizing extracurricular and co-curricular activities from time to time make employees and
students feel relief from daily work.
Extra-curricular activities: Few respondents reported that extra-curricular activities
such as sports, competition, yoga, and meditation are organized to revive the stress. However,
they reported that these activities are organize on voluntary basis on account of which
participation is very low in these activities.
One-to-one meetings: Very few respondents responded that One-to one meetings are
organized with the manager at times to reduce the level of stress if any teacher is facing the
grievances.
Activity expansion: Few respondents responded that activity is organized to reduce
the level of stress which are intended to reduce multitasking pressure, which otherwise affects
working efficiency of faculty at each level. However, the number of times the activity is
organized is very low.
References
Enebe, T. (2024). Managing Stress and Burnout at Work.
[Link]
_at_Work.
Park, S., & Min Kyeong Jang. (2019). Associations Between Workplace Exercise
Interventions and Job Stress Reduction: A Systematic Review. AAOHN, 67(12).
Vaishnavi, D. (2016). CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME
STRESS MANAGEMENT. [Link]., 379-384.
WHO. (2022). Mental health at work. Retrieved from [Link]:
[Link]
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%20managed%3B