Occupational Stress and Employee Performance: The Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support in the Healthcare Sector

Abstract

Occupational stress is a pervasive feature of contemporary work, particularly in demanding service settings, and its consequences for employee performance are a persistent concern for organizations. This study examined the relationship between occupational stress and employee performance among healthcare employees in India, and assessed whether perceived organizational support moderates this relationship. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 305 healthcare employees using validated measures of occupational stress, perceived organizational support, and job performance. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and moderated hierarchical regression, with the interaction between stress and support tested and interpreted through simple slope analysis. The results indicated that occupational stress was negatively related to performance, that perceived organizational support was positively related to performance, and that support significantly moderated the stress-performance relationship. Consistent with a buffering effect, the negative association between stress and performance was weaker among employees who perceived greater organizational support. The findings suggest that perceived organizational support attenuates the harmful influence of occupational stress on performance. The study recommends the strengthening of organizational support systems and stress-management practices, and discusses implications for managers and human resource practitioners in the healthcare sector, where stress is high and sustained performance is critical.