The impact of occupational stress on the job performance of human resources in the public hospital institution "Djilali Bounaama" in Algiers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Keywords:
Algeria, COVID-19, Healthcare, Job performance, Occupational stress, Public hospital, Resilience, Statistical analysis, Survey, WorkloadAbstract
This study explores the impact of occupational stress induced by the COVID-19 pandemic on the job performance of human resources in the healthcare sector. The research focuses on the Public Hospital Institution “Djilali Bounaama” in Algiers, which played a central role in Algeria’s national response to the pandemic. The study is grounded in the relevance of understanding how extreme public health emergencies affect healthcare workers' performance, especially in institutions under severe operational pressure. The primary objective of the research is to assess the influence of three core stress dimensions—workload, job nature, and organizational structure—on employee performance during the health crisis. The institution was selected due to its frontline status during the pandemic, and the research period corresponds to the height of COVID-19 activity in Algeria. The data were collected through a field survey based on a structured questionnaire distributed to a random sample of 250 employees. The sample includes medical and administrative staff, representing diverse job profiles. SPSS version 26 was used for statistical analysis, applying a descriptive-analytical approach. The results show that while the pandemic introduced significant workplace stressors, these did not have a strong or direct impact on the job performance of the respondents.
Downloads
References
AbuAlRub, R. F. (2004). Job stress, job performance, and social support among hospital nurses. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 36(1), 73–78.
Algunmeeyn, A., Alzahrani, H., Alofaishan, A., Alharbi, A., & Almalki, M. (2020). Nurses’ burnout and the impact of communication during COVID-19 in Jordan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 8670.
Arous, S., Boudiaf, M., & Benslimane, M. (2021). Impact de la pandémie COVID-19 sur la prise en charge des enfants atteints de cancer au CHU Mustapha. Annales de Pédiatrie, 68(4), 215–221.
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285.
BenYahia, I., Bensalem, L., & Kaci, A. (2022). Burnout et absentéisme dans les hôpitaux algériens durant la pandémie COVID-19. Revue Santé Maghreb, 10(2), 45–54.
Bouabdellah, K., Zerguine, H., & Semmoud, H. (2021). Occupational stress in Algerian public hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Public Health Research, 10(3), 343–351.
Cherif, A., & Madani, L. (2021). Burnout among Algerian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: Emotional and psychological consequences. Algerian Journal of Health Sciences, 5(1), 59–68.
Cooper, C. L., Dewe, P. J., & O’Driscoll, M. P. (2001). Organizational stress: A review and critique of theory, research, and applications. Sage Publications.
Dall’Ora, C., Ball, J., Reinius, M., & Griffiths, P. (2020). Burnout in nursing: A theoretical review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 109, 103–124.
El-Sayed, M. (2021). Institutional weaknesses and occupational stress in Egyptian public hospitals during COVID-19. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Health, 43(1), 72–84.
Galić, M., Pavičić, Ž., & Delić, A. (2021). Nurses' workload and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia. Health and Social Care in the Community, 29(6), 1575–1583.
Ganster, D. C., & Rosen, C. C. (2013). Work stress and employee health: A multidisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 39(5), 1085–1122.
Hamdan, M., Al-Hadid, L., & Yasin, A. (2020). The effects of training and rewards on nurses’ performance in Jordanian hospitals. Journal of Health Management, 22(4), 561–571.
Kaci, H., Boughaba, A., & Yahi, A. (2022). Logistical barriers to healthcare delivery in rural Algerian hospitals during COVID-19. Algerian Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(2), 110–117.
Karasek, R. A. (1979). Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(2), 285–308.
Kashif, M., Rehman, A., & Ali, N. (2024). Psychological distress and job performance among healthcare workers during COVID-19 in Pakistan. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 65, 102–119.
Khamisa, N., Oldenburg, B., Peltzer, K., & Ilic, D. (2015). Work-related stress, burnout, job satisfaction and general health of nurses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(1), 652–666.
Kherbache, F., Benahmed, H., & Souidi, F. (2021). Emotional burnout among female healthcare workers in Algeria during COVID-19. Revue Algérienne de Médecine, 7(2), 35–42.
Khanchanapong, T. (2022). High-performance work systems and employee outcomes during a health crisis: Evidence from a Thai public hospital. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 60(1), 99–118.
Lai, J., Ma, S., Wang, Y., Cai, Z., Hu, J., Wei, N., ... & Hu, S. (2020). Factors associated with mental health outcomes among healthcare workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Network Open, 3(3), e203976.
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.
Li, X., Zhang, Y., & Song, Y. (2021). The impact of job autonomy and organizational support on stress among nurses. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 93.
Luceño-Moreno, L., Talavera-Velasco, B., García-Albuerne, Y., & Martín-García, J. (2020). Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, levels of resilience and burnout in Spanish health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 5514.
Meraghni, A., Bensmail, N., & Zerarka, F. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on orthopedic residents in Algiers: Stress, education, and clinical training. Algerian Journal of Surgical Sciences, 6(1), 20–29.
Müller, A. E., Hafstad, E. V., Himmels, J. P. W., Smedslund, G., Flottorp, S., Stensland, S. Ø., ... & Vist, G. E. (2022). The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1–19.
Panagioti, M., Geraghty, K., Johnson, J., Zhou, A., Panagopoulou, E., Chew-Graham, C., ... & Esmail, A. (2017). Association between physician burnout and patient safety, professionalism, and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(10), 1317–1330.
Pintea, S., Popa, M., & Suciu, A. (2025). Coping strategies and stress outcomes among healthcare professionals during health emergencies. Journal of Applied Psychology and Health, 15(1), 55–67.
Que, J., Shi, L., Deng, J., Liu, J., Zhang, L., Wu, S., ... & Lu, L. (2020). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study in China. General Psychiatry, 33(3), e100259.
Ramaci, T., Barattucci, M., Ledda, C., & Rapisarda, V. (2020). Social stigma during COVID-19 and its impact on HCWs' health. Sustainability, 12(9), 3834.
Salas-Vallina, A., Alegre, J., & Fernández-Guerrero, R. (2022). Happiness at work and organizational citizenship behavior: Is stress a moderator? Employee Relations, 44(1), 156–174.
Sampaio, F., Sequeira, C., & Teixeira, L. (2021). Nurses’ mental health during COVID-19 in Brazil: Workload and psychological implications. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(5), 1015–1024.
Setyowati, S., Tamtomo, D., & Sartono, D. (2020). Effects of psychological stress on job performance in Indonesian public hospitals. Indonesian Journal of Public Health, 17(2), 78–84.
Ștefănescu, F., Dragomir, R., & Ionescu, L. (2022). Intrinsic motivation and commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study of Romanian hospital staff. Healthcare Management Forum, 35(2), 71–78.
Serradj, S., & Saidani, H. (2024). Telework, stress, and organizational commitment among Algerian public sector employees during COVID-19. Revue des Sciences Sociales, 21(1), 99–113.
Shanafelt, T., Ripp, J., & Trockel, M. (2020). Understanding and addressing sources of anxiety among health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA, 323(21), 2133–2134.
Tan, B. Y. Q., Chew, N. W. S., Lee, G. K. H., Jing, M., Goh, Y., Yeo, L. L. L., ... & Sharma, V. K. (2020). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers in Singapore. Annals of Internal Medicine, 173(4), 317–320.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Health and care worker deaths during COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/20-10-2021-health-and-care-worker-deaths-during-covid-19
Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit formation. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology, 18(5), 459–482.
Zaidi, S., & Nautiyal, S. (2024). Burnout among healthcare workers during COVID-19: The impact of work conditions and stress. International Journal of Health Sciences, 18(1), 104–118.
Zhang, W. R., Wang, K., Yin, L., Zhao, W. F., Xue, Q., Peng, M., ... & Wang, H. X. (2020). Mental health and psychosocial problems of medical health workers during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 89(4), 242–250.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The International tax journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
