Date Approved

5-4-1999

Embargo Period

8-4-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Dihoff, Roberta

Subject(s)

Postal service--Employees; Stress (Psychology)

Disciplines

Educational Psychology

Abstract

It is suggested that a plausible theoretical link exists between the management of change and recent killings in the United States Postal Service. The degradation of labor associated with the scientific management of technological change produces stress and frustration that weaken employee integration and undermine existing forms of social control. Certain employees reject prevailing definitions of situations provided by those in power and develop alternative meanings and patterns of behavior, including assaultive violence.

To examine this theory in more depth, 120 Occupational Stress questionnaires and rating sheets were randomly distributed to 30 Mailhandlers and 30 Machine Clerks working the "day" shift (7:00 am - 3:30 pm), and 30 Mailhandlers and Machine Clerks working the "graveyard" shift (11:00 pm- 7:00 am).

The Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) was used to measure levels of occupational stress and psychological strain. Postal workers who worked the "graveyard" shift were found to be significantly more stressed than Mailhandlers and Machine Clerks who worked the "day" shift F (1,13)=.001, p < .000.

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