A study of the factors and correlations influencing the safety level, job stress and job satisfaction of workers in small business in Korea

Heliyon. 2024 Nov 1;10(21):e40023. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40023. eCollection 2024 Nov 15.

Abstract

Background: Job stress was found to directly increase the likelihood of accidents and indirectly increase the likelihood of accidents by lowering the safety atmosphere. Job stress has a significant impact on the safety environment, and job satisfaction is effective in reducing accident rates. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the correlation between safety level, job stress, and job satisfaction in small businesses with a high risk of industrial accidents. Additionally, we aim to investigate factors that may affect job stress, job satisfaction, and safety levels.

Methods: This study was conducted on 230 workers in small businesses in Korea. First, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted using SPSS software, and anova analysis was used to investigate significant variables. Finally, the relationships between variables were investigated using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results: The analysis results showed that safety level and job stress had a negative correlation with a coefficient of -0.8. Safety level and job satisfaction had a correlation with a coefficient of 0.2. Job satisfaction and job stress had a negative correlation with a coefficient of -0.7. This shows that when job stress is high, there is a negative correlation between job satisfaction and safety level. In addition, 4 general characteristics items and 3 job characteristics items showed a correlation with job stress. 2 general characteristics items and 8 job characteristics items showed a correlation with job satisfaction. 4 general characteristics items and 11 job characteristics items showed a correlation with safety level.

Conclusion: Small businesses' job stress, safety level, and job satisfaction showed a significant correlation. In addition, the relationship between the variables affecting them was significant. In order to reduce the occurrence of accidents among workers in small businesses, control of factors and efforts to reduce job stress are necessary.

Keywords: Job satisfaction; Job stress; Safety level; Small business; Workplaces with less than 50 worker.