Factorial validity of the occupational stress indicator

Abstract

This study investigated the use of the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) on school administrators (principals, vice principals and heads of department) in Singapore, focusing on the reliability and factorial structure of the OSI. Generally, school administrators had fairly high scores on Sources of Pressure at work and consequently high levels of Mental and Physical ill health. In examining the factors of the six scales of the OSI, psychometrically the factors of three scales, Sources of Pressure, Job Satisfaction, Mental and Physical Health were found to be quite reliable. Some factors of the three other scales, Type A, Locus of Control and Coping Skills were found to be less reliable. After the items of these scales were re-factor analyzed, the new factors were found to have higher reliability. For comparative purposes within the sample, the factors of the OSI scales were analyzed by gender and marital status. The males found more job satisfaction, in design and structure, in organisational processes and in personal relationships. The females used social support as a coping skill more than the males. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences in job stress between the single and married administrators, except for the interface between home and work.