Study of Inter-Relationship Between Perceived Workplace Discrimination, Job Stress, Mental Well-Being, And Job Performance of Teachers

Background: This study was planned to investigate the consequences of perceived workplace discrimination on job stress, mental well-being, and teachers' job performance in higher education. A conceptual model was proposed to illustrate the relationship between the study variables. Methodology: A correlational research design was adopted, and convenience sampling was used for data collection of 200 teachers. The participants of this study represented different streams of science and arts and were asked to fill questionnaires to collect relevant information on the subject matter. Results: Results show that (a) workplace discrimination is significantly positively related to perceived job stress, negatively related to mental well-being and overall job performance. Further, stepwise regression analysis shows that perceived job stress, job tenure, and workplace discrimination explain significant contributions (job stress emerged as best predictors of job performance) to the job performance of teachers and while job stress and gender explain significant contributions (job stress again emerged as best predictors of mental well-being) to the mental well-being of teachers. Results have been discussed in light of previous studies.

Impact of psychological distress due to COVID-19 pandemic on spouse interpersonal relationships

Background: The novel virus, COVID-19, has proven to be a stressor on many levels due to factors like health, economic disruptions, lockdown, and stay-at-home orders. However, one of the significant stressors has been on relationships, primarily the intimate ones, like between spouses. To investigate the correlation between psychological distress and quality of spouse interpersonal relationships. Methodology: The mixed research design (i.e., qualitative and quantitative methods) was employed on 119 participants between 22-62 years of age, followed by a semi-structural interview of 12 participants, all through virtual snowball mode due to the COVID-19 scenario. Socio-demographic profile, psychological distress scale, and the quality of spouse interpersonal relationships scale and a semi-structural interview schedule were used for data collection. Results: The present study shows that psychological distress is negatively correlated with certain aspects like conflict, criticism, resentment, pressure, dominance, relative power, and exclusion of the quality of spouse interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, a positive correlation was observed with affection, emotional support, reliable alliance, satisfaction, companionship, and approval aspects of the quality of spouse interpersonal relationships. Qualitative results shows that argument with each other, disagreement, point out faults, pressurization for intimation, and violence with partner are some of the most prominent negative effects in their present life while developed understanding to each other, sense of trust, feel good, received love and affection, care for each other, emotional support, help in other household errands, and take care of children and parents are some of the positive aspects seen instead of the psychological distress perceived during this pandemic. Conclusions: COVID-19 has had considerable effects on spousal interpersonal relationships and needs further study