Exploring the Impact of Resilience: A Comparative Study of Perceived Stress among IT And Non-IT Professionals

Abstract

Background: The effects of globalisation and shifts in work paradigms are leading to heightened stress levels among individuals in developing nations. Acknowledging this widespread workplace stress is crucial, given its profound impact on the health of workers and the overall well-being of organizations. Perceived stress refers to the subjective experience of stress, where individuals perceive situations as being stressful or overwhelming, while resilience is the ability to bounce back or adapt in the face of challenges, difficulties, or adversity. It involves being able to cope with and overcome stressors, setbacks, and difficult situations effectively. Objective: The present research aims to determine the relationship between resilience and perceived stress among IT and non-IT professionals and the impact of resilience on perceived stress. Method: A sample of 98 professionals was selected using convenient sampling. A quantitative comparative research design was employed, utilising perceived stress and brief resilience scales to explore the relationship between resilience and perceived stress. Findings: The results suggest that perceived stress is negatively related to resilience (P < 0.05) among IT and non-IT professionals, indicating a negative correlation between resilience and perceived stress. In terms of gender, females showed increased perceived stress and decreased resilience tendency, particularly highlighting that self-employed individuals perceive more stress and have decreased resilience tendency, according to professionals. Additionally, it is stated that there is no significant difference in resilience and perceived stress among IT and non-IT professionals in terms of age and job category.