Identifying Coping Strategies of Employed Women Toward Occupational Stress: A Psychological Perspective

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the coping strategies employed by working women to manage occupational stress from a psychological perspective. A qualitative research design using conventional content analysis was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 23 employed women in Tehran, selected via purposive sampling. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The collected data were analyzed using NVivo software. Data analysis revealed three main categories: "individual-centered strategies," "interpersonal strategies," and "spiritual strategies." Each category encompassed various subcategories, reflecting the diversity and complexity of coping mechanisms utilized by women in the face of occupational stress. The findings indicate that employed women utilize a combination of individual, social, and spiritual coping strategies to manage occupational stress. These insights can inform the development of effective psychological and organizational interventions aimed at reducing work-related stress among women.