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Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 174 (2015) 1229 – 1233

INTE 2014

Spiritual approach in managing work-related stress of academicians

Salasiah Hanin Hamjaha*, Zainab Ismaila, Fariza Md. Sham a,b, Rosmawati Mohd. Rasita
& ‘Adawiyah Ismail a
ªFaculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi Selangor, Malaysia
b
Institute Islam Hadhari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Abstract

Work-related stress is an imbalance between work-related demand and individual capacity. If not appropriately handled, it may
adversely affect individual emotions. Work-related stress is also experienced by academicians in institutions of higher learning
due to various aspects. Various measures have been taken by academicians to overcome stress so that it will not adversely affect
academic excellence and scholarship. Hence, the aim of this research is to identify the perceptions of academicians regarding
their career and to examine the role of the spiritual aspect in managing stress experienced by them. This research is designed as a
survey study. 37 out of 108 academicians at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, National University of Malaysia (Universiti
Kebangsan Malaysia) have been randomly selected as study sample. Questionnaires are used as instrument of data collection.
The data obtained is analysed using the descriptive statistical technique. Research results find that the respondents’ perception of
their academic career shows they experience stress due to the burden of heavy workload leading to emotional and physical
fatigue, and also whenever they receive new assignments. This research also finds that a spiritual approach may play a role in
alleviating stress among academicians.

©
© 2015
2014TheTheAuthors. Published
Authors. by Elsevier
Published Ltd. Ltd.
by Elsevier This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-reviewunder
Peer-review under responsibility
responsibility of Sakarya
of the the Sakarya University.
University

Keywords: work-related stress, work motivation, academicians, spiritual, work environment

*
Corresponding author. Tel. : +603-89213505; fax +603-89213152
E-mail address : salhanin@ukm.edu.my

1877-0428 © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Sakarya University
doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.741
1230 Salasiah Hanin Hamjah et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 174 (2015) 1229 – 1233

1. Introduction

An individual with a career faced with various career challenges may experience work-related stress which
negatively affects his work, family and health (Fatimah Omar & Suryani Supardi, 2000). Jaafar Muhammad (1997)
has discovered three main causes which potentially create work-related stress. The first cause is the environment
factor comprising of economic uncertainty, political instability and technology. Second is the organizational factor
which involves organizational structure, organizational politics, role ambiguity, excessive workload, tedium and
lack of group support. Third is the personal factor comprising of behaviour, changes in life and role conflict.

In this regard, it is necessary to identify an approach in order to assist academicians in managing work-
related stress. Islam proposes a suitable spiritual approach. A spiritual approach may become the inner motivation to
induce a more positive attitude towards work and responsibilities in academicians. Thus, motivation is important to
an academic career. It is important in the academic world because of the numerous inevitable challenges
encountered. These challenges are sometimes easily manageable but at other times can be very difficult to overcome
so much so that academicians lose their diligence. Motivation is very important at this point in time and may be
likened to a catalyst for spiritual development towards the realization of aspirations and expectations built.
Therefore, motivation has to be nurtured, it will not come on its own. Nurturing motivation consistently will
increase work motivation and finally make work as something meaningful in life (Friedlander 1966). Work
motivation is also important to form a positive attitude and improve work performance (Hung-Wen Lee & Ching-
Hsiang Liu 2009; Wijono 1997). A study by Wernimont, et.al (1970) finds that one of the methods which assist in
increasing work motivation is to have a versatile employer, a challenging career and participation in decision-
making. Besides this, Katzell & Thompson (1990) find that motivation may be increased by job satisfaction, a
worker who attains job satisfaction is more inclined to be more productive. Further, a study by Salasiah et al. (2012)
shows that one of methods to increase motivation is to strengthen spiritual relation with God.

Despite the importance of motivation in an academic career, it cannot be denied that sometimes work
motivation decreases due to work pressure, such as pressure from the employer who requires academicians to
achieve Key Performance Indicator (KPI) even though academicians may not have the ability to do so. Other than
that, academicians also feel pressure from students, particularly problematic students who write inferior working
papers, from the problem of plagiarism and the problem of less competitive students. A study by Pelletier et.al
(2002) shows that academicians actually feel pressure from the top (employer) as well as stress from below
(students). This pressure or stress may adversely affect work motivation. Looking at stress as a factor which causes
decline in work motivation of academicians, this research is conducted to identify the perceptions of academicians
towards their career and to study a spiritual approach in managing work-related stress of academicians in the field of
Islamic Studies.

2. Purpose of Research

The purpose of this research is to identify the perceptions of academicians concerning their career and to study the
spiritual approach in managing stress experienced by academicians in the field of Islamic Studies.

3. Research methodology

This research is designed as a survey study. 37 academicians have been selected out of a total population of 108
academicians in the Faculty of Islamic Studies. Selection is done by systematic random sampling. Data is collected
using questionnaire consisting of four parts. Part A concerns the background of respondents, Part B relates to the
family background of respondents, Parts C, D and E concern the problems they face in increasing work motivation
and Part F concerns the methods which assist in work motivation among academicians in the Faculty of Islamic
Studies. Data is analysed descriptively and presented in the form of percentage, frequency and mean.
 Salasiah Hanin Hamjah et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 174 (2015) 1229 – 1233 1231

4. Research Findings and Discussion

Prior to discussing the spiritual approach in managing stress which may affect work motivation of academicians, it
is necessary to first discuss the perceptions of academicians towards their career. The result of analysis based on
mean finds that item “My work is never done ” has the highest mean value, i.e., mean =3.00, followed by the item
“ I feel very tired spiritually, emotionally and physically after work” (mean=2.86) and “ I feel stressed whenever I
get a work assignment”(mean=2.41). This shows that academicians experience work-related stress, particularly, they
feel that work is never done, thus causing weariness spiritually, emotionally and physically. Among them are also
those who feel stress whenever they get a new work assignment.

Table 1: Academicians’ Perceptions of their Career

Strongly
Strongly
No. Perception disagree Disagree Not sure Agree Mean
agree
I feel stressed whenever I get a new 6 16 10 4 1
1 2.41
work assignment. (16.2%) (43.2%) (27.0%) (10.8%) (2.7%)
6 9 5 13 4
2 My work is never done. 3.00
(16.2%) (24.3%) (13.5%) (35.1%) (10.8%)
15 13 8 1 0
3 I am bored with my work. 1.86
(40.5%) (35.1%) (21.6%) (2.7%) (0.0%)
4 Workload is too much so I prefer to
15 10 8 3 1
adopt the attitude “so long as I do my 2.05
(40.5%) (27.0%) (21.6%) (8.1%) (2.7%)
work”.
5 I feel very weary spiritually, 5 10 8 13 1
2.86
emotionally and physically after work. (13.5%) (27.0%) (21.6%) (35.1%) (2.7%)
6 I feel dissatisfied with my work. 9 12 9 7 0
2.38
(24.3%) (32.4%) (24.3%) (18.9%) (0.0%)
7 I am frequently moody, irritable and 14 15 6 2 0
1.89
impatient during work. (37.8%) (40.5%) (16.2%) (5.4%) (0.0%)
8 I frequently feel frustrated during work. 16 14 6 1 0
1.78
(43.2%) (37.8%) (16.2%) (2.7%) (0.0%)
9 I am thinking to resign or change 20 10 4 3 0
1.73
workplace. (54.1%) (27.0%) (10.8%) (8.1%) (0.0%)
10 I have no enthusiasm for work. 21 9 6 1 0
1.68
(56.8%) (24.3%) (16.2%) (2.7%) (0.0%)
Source: Questionnaire UKM-PTS-063-2010

In addition, this research also finds that there are academicians who are dissatisfied with their career such
as “ I feel dissatisfied with my work ” (mean=2.38), “ Workload is too much so I prefer to adopt the attitude, so
long as I do my work” (mean=2.05 ), “I am frequently moody, irritable and impatient during work” (mean=1.89), “I
am bored with my work ” (mean=1.86), “ I frequently feel frustrated during work” (mean = 1.78), “ I feel like
resigning or changing workplace” (mean=1.73) and “ I have no enthusiasm to work” (mean=1.68). Even though the
mean value obtained is not high, this clearly shows that a minority of academicians are not too happy with their
career so that they feel dissatisfied with their career, become less diligent in work, become moody, irritable, bored,
lose enthusiasm to do work and think of resigning or changing workplace. All these matters show that academicians
experience stress in their academic career.

The perceptions of academicians towards their career seem a little negative leading to the researcher to
study the approach taken by them in dealing with stress. The most popular approach is the spiritual approach. This
research finds that the spiritual aspect plays an important role in overcoming stress faced by academicians in the
field of Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Islamic Studies of UKM. Mean analysis finds that the item with the highest
mean is “Contentment with Allah’s providence” (mean=4.84) followed by item“ Keep proper worship (ibadah)”, “
Constantly purify the heart from bad traits such as envy, anger and so on” and “Faith in Allah’s help” each with a
common mean value (mean=4.81). Then followed by item “Purify the intention to work as worship
(ibadah)”(mean=4.78) and “Establish night vigil prayers (qiyam al-lail)” (mean=4.46).
1232 Salasiah Hanin Hamjah et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 174 (2015) 1229 – 1233

Briefly, this research finds that the spiritual practices implemented by academicians in dealing with stress
are fostering contentment with Allah’s providence, keeping proper worship, purifying the heart from bad traits,
having faith in Allah’s help, purifying the intention to work as worship (ibadah) and establishing qiyam al-lail.

Table 2: Spiritual Practices in Managing Stress

Strongly Strongly
No. Spiritual Practice Disagree Not sure Agree Mean
disagree agree
1 0 0 1 5 31 4.81
Keep proper worship.
(0.0%) (0.0%) (2.7%) (13.5%) (83.8%)
2 Constantly purify the heart 0 0 1 5 31 4.81
from bad traits such as envy, (0.0%) (0.0%) (2.7%) (13.5%) (83.8%)
anger, etc
3 0 0 1 5 31 4.81
Faith in Allah’s help.
(0.0%) (0.0%) (2.7%) (13.5%) (83.8%)
4 Contentment with Allah’s 0 0 1 4 32 4.84
providence. (0.0%) (0.0%) (2.7%) (10.8%) (86.5%)
5 Purify intention to work as 0 0 1 6 30 4.78
worship (ibadah). (0.0%) (0.0%) (2.7%) (16.2%) (81.1%)
6 Establish night vigil (Qiyam 1 0 3 10 23
4.46
al-lail) prayers (2.7%) (0.0%) (8.1%) (27.0%) (62.2%)
Source: Questionnaire UKM-PTS-063-2010

5. Discussion

The spiritual aspect is important to academicians at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, UKM to deal with career stress.
Fariza (2005) in her research on stress, finds two forms of implementing the spiritual approach, i.e., through social
and personal support. Social support comes from counselors and preachers who guide their souls/psyches to build
spiritual strength. In terms of personal support, the self-purification (tazkiyyah al-nafs) approach cultivates
praiseworthy (mahmudah) qualities such as contentment, patience, gratitude and trust in (tawakkal) Allah s.w.t.

Research results find that respondents apply spiritual practices such as fostering contentment with Allah’s
providence, keeping proper worship (ibadah), purifying the heart from bad traits, having faith in Allah’s help,
purifying the intention to work as worship (ibadah), and establishing night vigil prayers (qiyam al-lail) in order to
manage career stress as academics. This finding is in line with findings by Graham et al. (2001), Stanley et al.
(2011) and Yong et al. (2011) that the spiritual element if applied to a career helps to alleviate stress. The study by
Yong et al. (2011) shows that after a spiritual program given to nurses in Korea, stress was reduced and spiritual
well-being and leadership value increased. Similarly, the study by Hsiao et al. (2010) finds that the spiritual health
of students can be a mechanism for nursing students to manage their stress, to reduce depressive symptoms and to
enhance health-promoting behaviours. In addition, Salasiah et al. (2012) in her study finds the same result, i.e., a
spiritual approach can alleviate stress experienced by students of Islamic studies and increase their motivation to
learn.

There are respondents who keep proper worship to manage stress. This is in accordance with Islamic
teachings which encourages Muslims to keep their worship, especially prayers (solat) because a slave pleads for
God’s help in prayers when he faces difficulties in life (al-Baqarah 2:153). Prayers accompanied by al-himmah
(inner strength), giving full attention and focus on Allah including internalizing the significance of what is spoken
or done, will bring peace of mind (Al-Ghazali 2000). Besides, prayers give humans the opportunity to personally
interact with his Creator. A person may use this opportunity to pour out all his hidden and suppressed feelings from
his heart until his burden feels lifted (Che Zarrina Sa’ari 2001; Ayyub 1996). This is reinforced by another study of
Salasiah et al. (2014) which finds that through prayers, one may gain happiness. Research results also find that
respondents practice “Contentment with Allah’s providence” in their approach to alleviate work-related stress. This
is in line with Islamic teachings to encourage Muslims to always think good of Allah in every situation and to have
full confidence or faith in the wisdom behind any stress that afflicts him (Al-Ghazali 2000). Such feelings and
attitude significantly calms one’s soul or psyche and helps one to persevere as well as accept any form of challenges
 Salasiah Hanin Hamjah et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 174 (2015) 1229 – 1233 1233

in life. In conclusion, research results show that the spiritual approach may be taken as one of the steps in
overcoming stress in the world of education.

6. Conclusion

This research concludes that work-related stress among academicians, particularly relates to excessive workload,
emotional and physical weariness as well as boredom with career. A minority of academicians are not too happy
with their career to the extent of losing diligence in work, becoming moody, irritable and bored during work, losing
enthusiasm and feeling like resigning or changing workplace. One of the methods to deal with work-related stress is
by strengthening spirituality such as being contented with what Allah has given, keeping proper worship (ibadah),
striving to cleanse the heart from bad or negative traits, putting faith in Allah’s help and establishing qiyam al-lail.
(night vigil prayers). These findings show that work-related stress may be overcome by a spiritual approach.

Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) UKM-PTS-063-2010.

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