Title: Fear of COVID-19 outbreak, stress and anxiety among working employees: a multi-service sector study

Authors: Pratima Verma; Sumanjeet Singh; Vimal Kumar; Minakshi Paliwal; Preeti Sharma; Sung Chi Hsu

Addresses: Department of Strategic Management, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, 673570, India; Department of Business Administration, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, 41349, Taiwan ' Department of Commerce, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India ' Department of Information Management, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung-41349, Taiwan ' Department of Commerce, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India ' School of Open Learning (NCWEB), University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India ' Department and Graduate Institute of Construction Engineering, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung-41349, Taiwan

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to look at the link among financial stress, psychological stress, fear factors, and anxiety in the service industry as a result of the worldwide coronavirus epidemic. Additionally, the study also identified the various fear factors due to COVID-19. Regression analysis was applied to examine the responses of 539 service sector employees in India. The results revealed that the hypothesised variables' connections had substantial effects. Through the numerous fear variables, this study gives vital insights into the impact of epidemics on diverse service industries. Based on the demographic analysis, this study revealed that employees of every service sector organisation had a different level of fear factors. The study assists managers and human resource practitioners in developing an action plan for the period leading up to and following COVID-19, as well as communicating with their employees, which includes managers, human resource practitioners, and health and government officials.

Keywords: COVID-19; psychological stress; financial stress; anxiety; fear factors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2023.134715

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2023 Vol.45 No.3, pp.378 - 397

Received: 03 Sep 2021
Accepted: 24 Dec 2021
Published online: 08 Nov 2023 *

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