Understanding the Nexus of Job Satisfaction, Job-Related Stress, and Employee Performance: A Study in the Nursing Sector of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The international literature underscores the multifaceted nature of factors influencing employee performance, ranging from satisfaction derived from one's profession to the work environment, compensation policies, and levels of job stress. This survey study aims to shed light on the roles of job satisfaction and job-related stress as influential factors affecting job performance. Specifically, the research is centered on examining the relationship between job-related stress, job satisfaction, and employee performance within the nursing sector of Lahore, Pakistan. By focusing on these key variables, the study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play within the nursing profession in Lahore. Given the demanding nature of nursing roles and the critical importance of healthcare services, understanding how job-related stress and job satisfaction impact employee performance can offer valuable insights for both practitioners and policymakers in the healthcare sector. Through empirical investigation and analysis, the study aims to uncover the nuances of the relationships between job-related stress, job satisfaction, and employee performance, thereby informing strategies and interventions aimed at enhancing overall job satisfaction, reducing job-related stress, and ultimately improving employee performance within the nursing sector. For this study, hospitals were categorized into two major groups: private hospitals and government hospitals. To ensure representative sampling, a stratified random sampling technique was employed to select hospitals from each of these categories for data collection. Primary data was collected using close-ended questionnaires, which were distributed among 500 nurses working in these hospitals. The response rate achieved was 82.4%, indicating a high level of participation among the targeted respondents. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, a widely used measure of internal consistency. Additionally, various statistical analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between job-related stress, job satisfaction, and employee performance. Correlation analysis was employed to examine the degree of association between different variables, providing insights into potential patterns and relationships. Regression analysis was then utilized to assess the impact of job-related stress and job satisfaction on employee performance, controlling for other relevant factors. The findings of the study suggest that nurses employed in government hospitals exhibit higher levels of job satisfaction and better job performance compared to their counterparts in private hospitals. This may be attributed to various factors, such as job security, benefits, and perceived support from the organization. Interestingly, nurses in government hospitals also reported experiencing higher levels of stress, particularly stemming from challenge stressors. These stressors are often associated with work demands that can enhance motivation and performance, such as time pressure and task complexity. Despite the elevated stress levels, nurses in government hospitals may perceive these challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth, contributing to their overall job satisfaction and performance. The correlation analysis conducted in the study indicated a direct relationship between job-related stress, job satisfaction, and job performance among nurses. However, the analysis also revealed that job satisfaction exhibited a stronger correlation with job performance compared to job-related stress. Furthermore, the regression analyses conducted in the study provided additional insights into the relationship between these variables. The results indicated that job satisfaction was the primary factor significantly impacting the performance of nurses, whereas job-related stress did not have a significant effect on job performance. These findings suggest that while both job-related stress and job satisfaction are important factors to consider in understanding nurse performance, job satisfaction appears to play a more critical role. This underscores the importance of promoting job satisfaction among nurses as a means to enhance their overall performance and productivity in healthcare settings.