Personal and Environmental Risk Factors of Work-Related Stress: A Cross-Sectional Study among Female Workers of a Textile Industry in Indonesia

1. INTRODUCTION

Indonesia has been experiencing a serious economic distraction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many companies to formulate policies to survive unfavorable conditions [1]. Many companies reduced costs by delaying machine repairs and limited working hours [2], one of which happened to IT Co., Ltd., the largest textile company in Solo. The weaving section has a high noise level, unfavorable working conditions from old damaged machines, and poor interaction between workers and management. This problem can interfere with workers' mental health, such as causing work-related stress, a work-related disease often complained about in the weaving section [3]. A systematic review study in European countries stated that noise exceeding the threshold value could cause various stress symptoms. These include sleep disorders, cardiovascular, birth and reproduction complications, mental health, well-being, and quality of life [4, 5]. Moreover, studies in Asia, especially in China, show that noise intensity exceeding 85 dB could cause physiological and mental disorders, and the risk increases when it exceeds 95 dB [6, 7].

The work-related stress problem has been discussed worldwide as one of the occupational health problems [8]. In 2017, stress and mental disorder prevalence reached 10.7% of the 792 million people in many developed and developing countries [9]. Also, in developed countries such as the United States, the job stress prevalence was 94% of the total workforce in 2019. Absenteeism decreased productivity, and stress treatment caused 120,000 deaths and 300 billion US dollars loss [10]. This number far exceeds the loss or injury cost of 171 billion dollars resulting from work accidents in the same year [11]. A survey in various developing countries in Asia showed that work is the main cause of stress. The prevalence of stress is 57% in Malaysia, 62% in Hong Kong, 63% in Singapore, 71% in Vietnam, 73% in China and Indonesia, and 75% in Thailand [12].

The February 2020 data from Social Health Insurance Administration Agency in Indonesia showed that the total workforce was 137.91 million people, an increase of 1.73 million from the previous year [13]. Therefore, the magnitude of the losses and the work-related stress prevalence in Indonesia are important factors that must be studied with more incentives. Furthermore, several previous studies showed that women are vulnerable to stress [14, 15].

The weaving process of the textile industry poses a high-intensity noise hazard, which comes from machine movements that have the potential to cause work-related stress, so proper analysis and recommendations are needed to overcome this noise. IT Co. Ltd is one of the largest textile companies in Solo - Indonesia, surviving the economic shocks due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It uses many damaged production machines, causing a high level of noise. This condition is suspected of causing many work-related stress complaints among weaving workers. Therefore, this study investigates the correlation between personal and environmental risk factors and work-related stress. The results could be useful for industries, governments, practitioners, and researchers to take corrective actions that reduce the negative impact of environmental risk factors and work-related stress.

2. METHODS

3. RESULTS

This research was conducted in IT Co. Ltd., Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, with 188 weaving operators. Table 1 shows participants' age, working duration, educational attainment, noise exposure, environmental working condition and experience, social support, and work-related stress. Also, Table 2 shows a bivariate analysis using the Somers' Delta correlation test.

All participants in this study were females working in the weaving section on the morning shift (08.00-16.00 Western Indonesian Times). Most of the respondents had good working environment conditions (51.6%); were well experienced in weaving tasks (54.3%), with a high social support category (58%). Most workers were in late adulthood (36-45 years old). At the same time, the length of work dominated more than ten years (90.42%), with most of them having senior high school education (58.51%). In environmental risk factors, noise exposure in weaving workers dominated 101-105 dB (86.17%). More than half of weaving workers experienced subjective stress in the high category (51.6%).

The Somers' Delta correlation test results showed no significant correlation between the independent variables, such as personal factors of age, length of work, educational attainment, work experience, environmental factors of noise exposure, environmental working condition, social support, and the dependent variable, work-related stress at p> 0.05.

4. DISCUSSION

Most workers were above 36 years old; most of the workers had been working at the company for more than ten years, and more than half of the workers had a senior high school education. Bivariate analysis showed no significant correlation between personal factors of age, length of work, educational attainment, work experience, and work-related stress. This result contradicts the previous studies published in international journals. Workers' factors included gender, age, length of work, and education level influence, work-related stress and burnout in various developing countries [16]. Specifically, increasing the workers’ age could increase the risk of work-related stress in the workplace. Most individuals over the age of 30 easily experience stress because they must perform competitive work that requires the mind and stamina [17]. Therefore, company management should consider age when giving job descriptions, especially for women with high physical burdens. The working period of weavers in this research was mostly more than ten years. According to several studies, workers with longer experience are more resistant to related pressures than those with a shorter tenure [18]. The length of work relates to a worker's experience in dealing with problems at work. It also has the potential to affect both positively and negatively. The longer a person works, the more experience he will have and the quicker he will be able to solve issues at work. On the other side, longer working period results in boredom [19].

Education level is not the main parameter in recruiting weaving workers, especially in IT Co., Ltd. Companies need more workers with experience and expertise in weaving work [20]. Although, in theory, an individual's level of education can affect their sense of self, capacity for problem-solving, and outlook on reaching maturity.Education is a learning process; the higher a person's education, the easier it will receive and manage information, making it easier to solve various problems in the workplace [21, 22]. Sometimes this is different from the data from some studies in many developed countries. A higher education level also has a higher risk for workers experiencing work-related stress; this happens because people with high positions in companies will get a type of work with a high level of difficulty and busyness, which can trigger stress in the workplace [23].

Bivariate analysis showed no significant correlation between environmental factors of noise exposure, environmental working conditions, and social support in work-related stress. The noise measurement results showed that all spot working areas in the weaving section exceeded the permissible intensity value (>85dB), dominated by 101 dB and beyond. Lack of variability in the noise levels could be the reason for no significant correlation between the predictors and the outcome variables. The high noise intensity causes auditory and non-auditory effects in weaving workers, especially work-related stress. Noise can be a stressor after 3 hours of continuous noise exposure in the workplace [24, 25]. The negative health effect of noise has triggered studies on noise control in the workplace. One of them is called the Hierarchy of Control [26]. The control starts with elimination control, this program removes and replaces noise-causing work tools, but it takes time and requires relatively large funds [27]. The engineering control could be applied using materials that reduce noise [28]. Reducing noise loudness from the production machine requires materials with a sound absorption function. Examples are porous, large perforated, fibrous, and combination materials [29]. Furthermore, administrative control and personal protective equipment programs could be applied when engineering controls cannot effectively regulate workplace hazards. However, these controls could interfere with the company's work operations and comfort [30].

Good environmental working conditions and high social support could reduce the stress impact and symptoms [31, 32]. Such impacts include impaired concentration, emotional disturbances, less performance and productivity, and cardiovascular and heart disease [33, 34]. An unfavorable working environment can be one of the causes of stress and burnout for workers [35, 36], although it also depends on the perception of each worker [37, 38]. If the stressor felt by the worker is within the individual tolerance threshold, the worker will not experience stress. In other conditions, if the stressor is perceived as outside the individual's tolerance threshold, thereby causing stress. This condition can be influenced by coping mechanisms in individual adjustment/adaptation /response behavior in dealing with stressors or threatening situations [39, 40]. In addition, good social support from families and friends can be a protective mechanism against stress and burnout [41, 42]. Social support obtained from co-workers and supervisors in workplaces will help workers do their jobs (correcting mistakes and helping to overcome difficulties) [43]. Mutual support behavior can be given in the form of giving advice, feedback, appreciation, real help obtained from close social relationships, or also through the presence of other people [44, 45].

CONCLUSION

Although some previous studies indicated that personal factors, working conditions, and social support could trigger stress among workers, this study found no correlation between the independent and the dependent variables. However, considering the high occupational noise intensity, the effort to reduce stress among weaving workers should be invested to keep their workers healthy.

A practical engineering control using sound-absorbing materials could be an idea to be tried out. In the upcoming study, the researchers will use low-cost sound-absorbing materials from the company's waste, such as patchwork waste, as a sound absorber in the working area.

REFERENCES