Investigation of the relationship between positive psychological capital and coping strategies with stress (Adana public institution example)

Positive psychology, which is a sub-branch of psychology, is concerned with improving the negative and unhealthy aspects of individuals as well as the development of positive and strong aspects. The concept of positive psychological capital has emerge on the basis of positive psychology and mostly has become used in the organizational field. Positive psychological capital, which interacts with many factors within the organization, is also seen to be related to the coping strategies with stress of the individuals that affect the human resources psychologically. Positive psychological capital is considered as a resource that individuals need and must invest in order to coping with stress sources within the organization. In addition, it is considered necessary strengthen and develop its psychological capital to help employees better cope with stress at work. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between positive psychological capital and coping strategies with stress. The sub-objectives of this study are investigate whether the coping strategies and psychological capital levels of the employees differ according to socio-demographic variables. The sample of the study consists of 257 employees of a public institution in Adana. In the study data were collected by convenience sampling method and used The 24-item Psychological Capital Scale and the Coping Strategies with Stress Scale. In addition, with the socio-demographic information form prepared by the researcher, the sample age, gender, the number of years worked in the institution, the position in the institution, workload, income, educational status, marital status, the number of children, the frequency of sports in a week, socio-demographic characteristics such as the frequency of going to the theater or going to the cinema within a month were collected. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 program. Data analysis was performed on the total scores obtained from the scales. As a result of the study, it was found that there was a statistically significant, high level positive relationship between psychological capital and coping strategies with stress. Based on this finding, it is possible to say that as the psychological capital of the employees increases, strategies for coping with stress will increase. When the relationship between psychological capital and sub-dimensions of coping strategies is examined; a statistically significant positive correlation was found between psychological capital and the logical analysis, positive reassessment, problem solving, guidance and support seeking. In the light of the sub-objectives of the study, when the differences in demographic characteristics on the level of psychological capital are examined; it was concluded that employees' psychological capital become different according to gender, age, seniority, having a child, educational level, how many times a week they do sports, and the number of monthly meetings in the institution. Finally, when the differences created by demographic characteristics on coping strategies examined; it was found that, coping strategies were differ according to employees age, status of having a child, education, seniority and sports habits.