Effective factors on job stress in military personnel

Occupational stress is a common problem in modern societies. Military related jobs are among high stress occupations. This study was performed to identify factors influencing occupational stress in military personnel in Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed on 749 official military personnel from different provinces of Iran, who were selected using two-stage cluster sampling, in year 2010. Occupational Descriptive Index (containing 35 questions) was used in order to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistical methods including variance analysis and independent t-test by SPSS 16 software. The relationship between age and occupational stress shown to be as a broken curve in which the greatest amount of stress was observed in range of 26 to 40 years and after that the stress decreased as the age increased. Based on results, age had effect on all areas of occupational stress, except for Demand and Relationship. Results showed a reverse relationship between occupational satisfaction and occupational stress. Occupational satisfaction affected all areas of occupational stress. Occupational stress decreases with age increase and age has impact on all areas of occupational stress. Work experience has a significant relationship with occupational stress.