Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities Vol. 5, No. 11, November 2015, pp. 75-85.

Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities

ISSN 2249-7315

www.aijsh.org

Asian Research Consortium

The Effects of Type A-B Personality on Symptoms of Stress: Employee Experience Hasnun Anip Bustaman*; Tuan Mohd Rosli Tuan Hassan**; Roslan Ab Rahim*** *University Technology, MARA Kelantan, Malaysia. **University Technology, MARA Kelantan, Malaysia. ***University Technology, MARA Kelantan, Malaysia. DOI N UMBER-10.5958/2249-7315.2015.00248.8

Abstract This study is an attempt to explore which personality types invulnerable to stress environments. Personality identified in this study as personality type A and personality type B. Employee’s personality remains anonymous until it was discovered using adopted instrument called Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS). Then the stress defined using universal stress symptoms consists of physical symptom, emotional symptom and behavior symptom. The study conducted consists of 282 employees from various telecommunications companies operating its business all over Malaysia to reveals which personalities responds higher to the stress symptoms intercepted by length of service. Result discovered partially personality type A-B significantly different on symptom of stress influenced by length of services. Precisely physical symptom of personality types A demonstrated declining while personality type B showing growing patent by longer of services. Furthermore personality type A-B reveals significantly different influence on symptoms of stress. In conclusion, selection of employee by means of method personality identifications who is capable handling stress environment should be included as a new practice in recruitment and selection process particularly occupying Telecommunication Company.

Keywords: Personality Type A/B, Recruitment and selection, Stress and Stress Symptoms.

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Bustaman et al. (2015). Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 5, No.11, pp. 75-85.

1. Introduction Interest in the matching external candidate with organization environment and hiring employee’s competence invulnerability to stress environment has increase markedly during last few years, as indicated by several reviews of the literature ( amber, 2007: Shin goo park et al. 2008: Keinan and Tal, 2004). Despite widespread interest, there have been relatively few reports of empirical investigations of employee’s personality invulnerable to organization stress environments. Amber Raza (2007) study on workplace stressor using personality type A and personality type B to measure the impact of stressor on employee‘s personality. Original research pertaining personality type A-B first identified by Friedman and Rosenman (1959), who are suggest that a particular group of behaviors is common among coronary patients. Enrichment of knowledge on personality type A-B from the health field to vicinity of business was started by Jenkin, Zyzanski and Rosenman (1979). A study was conducted until establish a model so call Jenkins Activity Survey. Then modification of the instrument took place from the original version where initially focusing on individual jobs or incomes to the items pertaining schoolwork. Enlargement of knowledge in the realm of personality type does not come to the end but more on just started mainly in human resource management subject. Regardless of development of personality study, the ultimate purpose must be drive the finding to the personality that invulnerable to workplace stress. Workplace stress does not have the same effect on all individuals. There are a range of personal, social, and environmental moderators within each of us that influence our susceptibility and coping abilities in relation to the stressors we experience. Personality differences, gender differences, age, and social support all seem to be important factors in determining how well individuals cope with workplace stress (Wichert, 2002). Personality differences have been acknowledged as influential on database (Borgman, 1989). Although long experiences in database searching usually reduce the influence of personality, shyness and weak self-esteem may initially have a negative impact on search outcome (Bellardo, 1985). Recognized on previous study was navigating researcher to initiate development of first hypotheses as stated: H1:

Types A personality is less significant characteristics demonstrated in longer experiences would be less impact to stress symptoms (physical, emotional and behavior) compare to Type B

According to Friedman and Rosenman (1974) have identified two personality types which they have labelled „Type A‟ and „Type B‟. The Type A personality has what Friedman and Rosenman (1974) called „hurry sickness‟. A typical Type A personality: - always seems busy and runs his or her life by the clock - speaks quickly and loudly - walks quickly - eats rapidly 76

Bustaman et al. (2015). Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 5, No.11, pp. 75-85.

- is impatient and irritable - tries to do more than one thing at a time - feels guilty when relaxing - is competitive and plays to win - schedules too many activities into a day - and is intolerant of failure Not surprisingly, Type B individuals are the complete opposite. A typical Type B personality: - can stay patient and calm - has no inner anger nor hostility - cooperates with others - can relax without feeling guilty - plays for fun, not to win - is flexible and easy going - and works without agitation Studies have shown that individuals displaying Type A characteristics have a significantly increased risk of experiencing the deleterious effects of stress. It is argued that individuals exhibiting Type A behaviors are more likely to enter into demanding jobs, more likely to overreact to them, and for this reason would be more vulnerable to stress and coronary heart disease in particular (Wainwright et. al, 2002). The research by Janice (1995) shown that, Type A individuals will perceive and experience more stress than Type B individuals. Janice (1995) study revealed type A individuals are those who are in a constant and urgent struggle to get a number of things done in the least amount of time. Type B individuals, on the other hand, have no driving urge or desire to succeed base on subjects study were executives from the banking, finance and insurance companies in Singapore. Extraction from previous study generated second hypotheses as below: H2:

Type A personality demonstrating higher than Type B personality on the symptoms of stress (physical, emotional and behavior)

Surprisingly when refer to Dr. Sheeba Khan (2011) stated that people with type A more often shows the personality characteristics such as highly ambitious, energetic, impatient, competitive, hardworking, time urgent and high achiever. In this type of profession person with type A are more successful but it is also true that due to their personality characteristics they become restless and

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Bustaman et al. (2015). Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 5, No.11, pp. 75-85.

their self satisfaction level reduces to a very low. So if they fail to achieve their targets in time they are more likely to create tension around them.

2. Methodology The data used in this study from 282 employees working in telecommunications industries operating its business all over Malaysia. Total three listed companies at Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) involve in telecommunications industries contribute giving respond to the instruments designed. In specify, study from 10 branches located at big city such as Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Johor Bharu, Kuantan, Shah Alam and Bandar Melaka taking into account peak area leading to more stress environment. Majority of respondents working as front-office employee those are dealing with customer in their daily jobs. Crowded customers, various questions, complaints and critics could heat up the position further creating negative environment contributing to employee stress (Ellison C. W. & Maynard E. S., 1992) explaining a concrete reason why does this study confine its respondents to the front-office employees. Moreover creating conducive environment should be begun with front-office employee are paramount in projecting hospitable image (James A. Bardi & et al. 2007) is an important initiative to guarantee survival of an organization. Questionnaire was adopted from Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS-SF) as instruments for stress symptoms. Chang et al. (2005) validated the reliability of the KOSS in a nationwide epidemiological study (NSDSOS project) conducted in Korea. Reliability result from what has been achieved in original instruments showing no different compare to result from this study. Three main subscales physical-0.94, behavior-0.756 and emotional-0.761, refer to Cronbach’s Alpha measurement by Sekaran (2006) indicating acceptable result. Meanwhile, instrument to measure personality had been adopted from Jenkin Activity survey (JAS: Jenkin, Zyzanski & Rosenman, 1979) is a self report measure of Type A behavior. The instrument consists of 20 items encompassing personalities of employee. Type A behavior has been operationally defined in several ways. A structured interview asks questions regarding Type A characteristics and notes both the content and the expressive style of the patient's responses (Rosenman, Straus, Wurm, Kostichek, Hahn, & Werthessen, 1964). Supernumerary, an alternate version of the JAS was developed for use with college students (Krantz, Glass, & Snyder, 1974). This modified form is identical to the original version except that items pertaining to individuals' jobs or incomes have been either dropped or changed to refer to schoolwork. Procedure analysis, respondents have to answer three different sections in a questionnaire. Firstly respondent have to answer section regarding demographic information followed by instruments related to personality type and finally instruments related to symptoms of stress. Frequency analysis to reveal the number of Type A and Type B participate in this study. We then analyze the data using chi-square test for independent to discover the relationship between personality type and symptom of stress. Other than that, through the analysis of study researcher also could determine the different influence between Type A and Type B to the symptom of stress.

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Bustaman et al. (2015). Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 5, No.11, pp. 75-85.

3. Result Descriptive statistics are presented in Table 1. 55.4 percent out of a total 282 employee were included in the study are female employee. Type A personalities representing 39.3 percent from total respondent. Meanwhile length of service were divided into 2 categories, below than 1 year consist of 37.5 percent and remaining balance are employee who have experience more than 1 year. Respondents with age between 25 – 27 groups made up the largest group of respondents with 46.4 percent followed by 26.8 percent for 22 – 24 age group, 14.3 percent for 28 and above and lastly for 19 – 21 age is 12.5 percent. Most of respondents in this study were Malay 67.9 percent consists of 191 respondents followed by Chinese 19.6 percent and Indian 12.5 percent. Coincidently, ethnic distribution in this study aligns with Malaysian’s composition (Department of Statistic Malaysia, 2011). Base on the table 1 result from two-way analysis of variance Levene’s test showing hypotheses one on physical symptom F (2.775), P