Stress and smoking at the workplace : a comparative study of the stress levels of machine operators who are smokers and those who are non-smokers

Abstract

This research aimed at investigating the hypothesis that 'Machine operators who are smokers have higher levels of stress than machine operators who are non-smokers.' The Pressure Management Indicator was used to measure the levels of stress of machine operators within a manufacturing organisation operating locally. The levels of stress of smokers (n = 49) and non-smokers (n = 45) were compared using an independent sample t-test. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found between the two groups, and consequently it was concluded that machine operators who are smokers do not have significantly higher stress levels than machine operators who are non-smokers.