Impact of Locus of Control on Job Stress: an Empirical Study

Locus of Control (LOC) concept was evolved from social learning theory of personality in the form of reinforcement. Rotter coined the term in relation to learned behavior and the reinforcement of such behavior. In the light of the phenomenon, individuals come to hold beliefs about the cause of their actions, and these beliefs then guide their attitudes and behavior for future actions. Job stress is inability to cope with the pressures of the job. Job stress may cost 10% to the GDP of any economy. Apart from the financial costs, the employee may suffer from many physiological and psychological diseases. One of the major sources of job stress was found to be the personality of the individual. This study attempts to analyse the impact of locus of control on job stress. The researchers attempt to assess whether internal or external locus of control relates to job stress of the employees. 100 employees were surveyed in the study. Job Stress and Locus of Control Questionnaires were administrated to the employees. The analysis revealed that the Indian employees are facing high job stress. It was found that employees who have internal locus of control are less stressed by their jobs and more satisfied with the organization while the external locus of control employees are high on stress and more dissatisfied with their jobs. The study suggests that while designing any stress management programme, management should give due consideration to the variable of Locus of Control.