Does the Job Stress Always Lead to a Negative Stress? Understanding the Effect of Job Stress on Organizational Commitment among General Operations Forces

Abstract

Stress at work has been perceived as a negative influence and a psychological hazard for both employees and employers and should be avoided. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that job stress can positively impact workplace performance and foster professional growth. This study aims to investigate the impact of job stress on organizational commitment among members of the General Operations Force or Polis Gerakan Am (PGA) in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. The General Operations Force is a Malaysian public law enforcement organization expected to carry out duties with demands, responsibilities, and objectives beyond their abilities. The tasks and burdens will cause personnel to experience stress at work. The researcher used the Occupational Stress Index (OSI) developed by Cooper et al (1988) to evaluate the level of job stress among 216 personnel. This study uses SPSS software for the descriptive and simple linear regression model analysis to assess the data findings. This study found that police officer at the General Operations Force Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, experience moderate levels of job stress. Furthermore, the study reveals that responsibility for people is a significant factor influencing job stress among PGA members. The simple linear regression model analysis demonstrates a strong positive relationship between job stress and organizational commitment. The study concludes that moderate job stress can generate positive work stress (eustress) and positively affect organizational commitment.