Work Stress and Coping in Agricultural Workers

The study “Work Stress and Coping in Agricultural Workers: An Organizational Psychology Study in Samastipur” investigates the psychological challenges faced by agricultural workers in Bihar, with a focus on occupational stress, coping strategies, and psychological distress. Employing a cross-sectional design with a sample of 125 participants, data were collected using standardized tools including the Occupational Stress Inventory, Coping Strategies Inventory, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and a Social Support Index. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and psychological variables, while independent samples t-tests compared differences across gender and residence categories. Results indicated moderately high stress (M = 74.1) and distress (M = 22.4), with nearly equal reliance on problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Significant differences were observed: women reported higher emotion-focused coping than men (p = .050), while rural workers showed significantly higher stress, distress, perceived stigma, and emotion-focused coping compared to semi-urban workers (p < .05). These findings support theoretical frameworks such as the Job Demand–Resource model and the transactional model of stress and coping, emphasizing how ecological and gender factors shape psychological outcomes. Implications include the need for tailored interventions to strengthen adaptive coping, reduce stigma, and integrate psychosocial support into occupational health and TB management programs in rural India.