International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Ven. Wijithadhamma1, Medagampitiye, Wasantha HPC2
1Professor, Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
2Senior Lecturer, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
Abstract:
Stress happens everywhere to each person and it is really a typical part of an individual’s life. It’s the body and mind reaction to a new and challenging situation. Everyone has different stress triggers. Work stress tops the list, according to surveys (Watson, S., 16 March 2022). The situation of COVID -19 carried a dissimilar shape and color to the workplace or work/job related stress. The COVID-19 pandemic has generated one of the worst jobs crises and there is a real hazard that the crisis was an expansion of stress in different ways to individuals who work in many jobs everywhere in the world. Studies claimed that there is an inverse association between mindfulness and stress (rdw.rowan.edu). According to the American Psychological Association- (APA) mindfulness meditation can improve both mental and physical health (Bartlett L, Buscot MJ., Bindoff A., Chambers R., Hassed C. at all, 10 September 2021). Kabat-Zinn defined mindfulness as “the awareness that arises through giving attention, on purpose, in the current moment, and non-judgmentally to the relating of experience moment by moment” (Kabat- Zinn, 2003, p. 145).
This cross-sectional study focused on applying mindfulness for managing job stress in the finance sector employees in Northern peninsula in Sri Lanka during the period of Covid-19. All the participants represented the religion of Hinduism. Hinduism is an Indian religion and dharma, or way of life (Sharma, 2003, pp. 12–13) and the dominant religion of India that emphasizes dharma with its resulting ritual and social observances and often mystical contemplation and ascetic practices (Merriam-webster.com). In this background, this research attempted to get an answer for the question; “could mindfulness be effective for managing work-place stress of the Hinduism employees who work in the field of finance during the pandemic of COVIID-9”. Henceforth, the general objective of this research is measuring the successfulness of the mindfulness for managing the work stress of Hinduism employees during the pandemic situation of COVIID-9. Specific objectives of this study are examine: 1) the physical, mental, and emotional effects of the stress at this pandemic situation that these employees are experiencing, 2) the capability of staying in the current moment; level of mindfulness of the employees & 3) Contribution of mindfulness to reduce the symptoms of perceived stress of the employees. The study was grounded on both primary and secondary data. The primary data has been collected online from 36 employees who represent top to bottom management level in the finance sector in Northern Province in Sri Lanka. Gathering of data was a vital part of the study and interviews and informal discussions had been conducted before and after the MBSR program.
As this is a mixed methods research, data interpretation was done using both quantitative and qualitative measures. It was observed that as a whole, before the MBSR program, many employees who worked in the Northern Province experienced moderate levels of stress and the data showed that employees had a considerable amount of mindfulness level. After the MBSR program the coping mechanism of the stress has developed into a positive level and the mindfulness level has greatly increased of the employees.