Title: Locus of control and its impact on stress at work and job satisfaction

Authors: Vinita Sinha; Sonali Bhattacharya; Pooja Sharma

Addresses: SI (DU) – Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, India ' SI (DU) – Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, India ' SI (DU) – Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, India

Abstract: Individuals attribute outcome to either internal factors or external factors. Individuals who accredit internal factors are categorised to have internal LOC and people who impute to external factors are categorised to have external LOC. Employees experience different levels of work stress and job satisfaction from the same type of job. This study investigates the relationship between LOC, job stress and job satisfaction. Data was collected from working professional using standardised questionnaire. The findings indicate the higher the internal locus of control the lower will be the level of job stress and higher will be the job satisfaction. Though strong positive relationship exists between internal locus of control and job satisfaction, job stress may play partially mediating role. External locus of control (both others and chance) does not impact job satisfaction, but impact positively job stress. In a nutshell individuals or organisations should aim to develop strategies to reinforce internal locus of control in the employees so as to ensure stress free and satisfied work force.

Keywords: locus of control; job stress; work; job satisfaction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2019.101060

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2019 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.446 - 460

Received: 12 Feb 2018
Accepted: 12 Jun 2018
Published online: 23 Jul 2019 *

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