Occupational stress and job performance among primary healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study in Iran

Occupational stress leads to feelings of fear, excitement, danger, or anger. Its’ impact extends to employee performance, subsequently diminishing the effectiveness of both individual employees and the organization as a whole. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between occupational stress and job performance of healthcare workers in the primary health care (PHC). This cross-sectional study was carried out among PHC healthcare workers in Hamadan, Iran, in 2023. Using the convenience sampling method, 403 participants were involved. The tools used to collect data included the demographic information form, Occupational Stress, and Job Performance Questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS26 software, by One-way ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson’s correlation, and Multiple linear regression analysis. A total of 51.9% of healthcare workers experienced low occupational stress. Remarkably, 97% of healthcare workers had better job performance. A significant negative correlation emerged between the total scores of occupational stress and job performances (r = −0.339, p < 0.001). Moreover, the variables of gender, work experience, and type of employment exhibited statistically significant relationships with job performance (p < 0.05). To mitigate the risk of occupational stress, it is recommended to improve the working environment including implementing changes in physical working conditions, establishing job security measures, and introducing training programs effectively.