Antecedents and Consequences of Occupational Stress in the Life Insurance Sector

This study aims at examining the antecedents and consequences of occupational stress among the employees of life insurance companies. A sample of 374 life insurance employees was surveyed through a structured interview schedule using census method. Factor analysis was carried out to identify the perceived sources and consequences of occupational stress. The findings reveal that ‘ineffective leadership style’ is the major source of stress, apart from ‘lack of control at work’, ‘poor relationship with supervisor’ and ‘lack of advancement opportunities’. The study also shows that occupational stress has high negative impact on psychological health but have no impact on physical health of life insurance employees. The practical implications for managing occupational stress in insurance sector are discussed at the end of the paper along with the limitations and opportunities for further research.