Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

Traffic enforcers play a vital role in maintaining public order and safety in our roads. A properly trained
traffic enforcer coupled with the best practices in the enforcement of traffic laws will ensure a safer road for the
public particularly to motorists and pedestrians (Gatchalian,2014). Traffic enforcers help keep roads and
walkways free of congestion so regular traffic, emergency vehicles and pedestrians can move about safely.
Traffic officers are responsible for directing traffic during parades, road work or accidents. Sometimes traffic
enforcers direct pedestrian foot traffic. Traffic officers may also control crowds during emergencies to make
sure fire and rescue workers can get to the scene safely (Blake,2018). They perform an absolutely vital role here
– the roads are a better place with them (Bosworth,2017).
Traffic police officers face many challenges in their line of duty to the country and its citizens. (Omar,
Aluwi, Hussein, Mohd & Dalina, 2020). Several studies were conducted to investigate factors causing stress
among traffic police in different places. A study by Deb, S, Chakraborty et.al (2005) on traffic police officers
revealed that not having adequate rest, no leaves, failure to attend social occasions and too much work pressure
are causing more stress among traffic police officers in Calcutta. McCarty et al. (2007) identified that the stress
levels have the same effect on both male and female police officers. The study also found that increased time
constraints to solve crimes, heavy workloads, long working hours, more physical nature of work are all acting
as stressors of workplace for a police employee. Sibnath Deb et.al (2008) in their study found that different
factors such as inadequate rest, long working hours, inadequate leave provisions, pressure from politicians, too
many vehicles on the road, hot climatic conditions, Lack of public cooperation and support from public, lack of
coordination among colleagues, problems at domestic front causing stress among traffic constables in Calcutta
City. Measurement of the stress levels and implementation of coping strategies are very important to maintain
the health of the traffic police (Krishnamurthy & Sharma).
According to the World Health Organization (2023), stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental
tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges
and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however,
makes a big difference to our overall well-being. Stress affects both the mind and the body. Doing what matters
in times of stress – aims to equip people with practical skills to cope with stress.
Coping mechanisms are strategies that help people deal with stress and uncomfortable emotions.
Whether you realize it or not, you are using coping mechanisms regularly. These behaviors can help you cope
with stress in a positive way or can sometimes be harmful. (Bailey,2022). According to Lazarus and Folkman’s
(1984) model, people differ in their sensitivity and vulnerability to stressful events and thus react differently in
stressful situations (Peeters et al., 1995). An individual who experiences a stressful situation can react in one of
two ways. Emotion-focused coping is defined as decreasing emotional stress, including strategies such as
abstention, blaming others, keeping one’s distance, selective attention, and finding something valuable in
negative events. Problem-focused coping includes problem-solving strategies and dealing effectively with
stressful stimuli (Folkman et al., 1986).
The majority of research focuses solely on the stress experienced by police officers as compared to
traffic enforcers. Moreover, research specific to the concept of coping mechanism of traffic enforcers seems to
be limited. The impact of perceived stress on coping mechanisms among traffic enforcers is therefore of greater
interest to the researchers. As a result, the primary goal or objective of this study is to determine the effect of
perceived stress as well as the coping mechanisms that the traffic enforcers of Danao City employ to lessen or
control the perceived stress that they encounter on the job.
Theoretical Background

This study is anchored on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping proposed by Lazarus and
Folkman (1984). This model suggests that stress is a result of the interaction between an individual and their
environment, and coping mechanisms which are employed to manage and alleviate the stress. The
conceptualization, proposed by (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), views coping as a dynamic process, specific not
only to the presenting situation but also to the stage of the encounter. According to Lazarus & Folkman (1988),
coping is not merely a response to tension. Instead, coping is influenced by an individual's cognitive appraisal
of an event; and one's cognitive appraisal subsequently influences emotional arousal (Lazarus & Folkman,
1988). The TSC (Folkman, 2008; Lazarus, 2006; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) proposes that two prototypical
states, challenge and threat, arise from cognitive judgments of the meaning of a situation and one's ability to
respond to the situation. In the TSC, primary appraisal refers to the judgment of a situation as being benign or
stressful. Benign situations are judged as requiring no instrumental action on the part of the individual to
facilitate a positive outcome, whereas stressful situations are judged to require specific action(s). Stressful
situations themselves fall into two categories, they can be challenging or threatening. Challenging situations are
those perceived to offer the potential for growth, mastery, and gain (e.g., performing well at exams).
Threatening situations are those perceived to potentially result in harm or loss (e.g., performing poorly at
exams). The perception of challenge or threat is determined in a secondary appraisal of one's ability to cope
with, and respond to, the stressful situation. Challenge results from the judgment that one has the necessary
resources to cope (e.g., I know this exam is important but I have belief in my ability), and threat from the
judgment that one does not (e.g., I know this exam is important but I do not think I have the skills to pass it).
Although the implication of primary appraisal is that judgments of relevance or importance of a situation
precede judgments of coping, this need not be the case. Secondary appraisals may, for instance, determine the
initial relevance of a situation (e.g., Blascovich & Mendes, 2010; Jamieson, 2017). For instance, a fear appeal
stating that effort may be required to avoid failure could be judged as irrelevant by a student who seems to find
a subject naturally easy and seems to achieve high grades with little effort.

In addition, this study is supported and further explained through the Conservation of Resources theory
(COR) which is a well-known psychological theory that describes how people work to preserve and develop
resources in order to control stress, face challenges, and improve wellbeing. According to the COR theory,
people try to protect, build, and preserve resources in three different categories: personal, societal, and structural
resources. An individual's intrinsic qualities, such as talents, knowledge, and self-esteem, are referred to as
personal resources. Social support, mentoring, and wholesome connections are examples of the external
resources that emerge through social networks. A person's access to physical resources like money, tools, and
facilities are referred to as structural resources. The theory also explains the driving force behind humans'
pursuit of additional resources as well as their maintenance of existing resources. Moreover, it has been found
to be a reliable basis for understanding the processes involved with experiencing, coping with, and overcoming
chronic and traumatic stress. The COR theory postulates that individuals are motivated to protect, procure, and
preserve resources (Hobfoll, 1991). Resources are anything that a person values and can be broken down into
four categories: objects (e.g., house, phone), conditions (e.g., stable employment, good health), personal
characteristics, (e.g., optimism, hope), and energies (e.g., knowledge). According to the COR theory, stress
results when an individual’s resources are threatened, depleted, or when investment(s) in new resources do not
accrue adequately (Hobfoll, 1991; Hobfoll, 2001). Hobfoll (1991) proposed that traumatic stress results from
an accelerated loss of resources, particularly those that are most valued by the individual. The traffic enforcers'
work, particularly dealing with road problems, can result in a great deal of stress. Through this theory, they
could navigate their stressors to a motivating tool so that they could strive and face the daily struggles of their
job with a happy heart and mind. In addition, it is highlighted that, like other workers, traffic enforcers require
adequate support and compensation for the tasks they must do each day. This study using the COR theory could
highlight each resource that each traffic enforcer has, which could explain why they are continuing with the job
and their capacities to cope with each stressor that they have in order to understand the various stressors that
each traffic enforcer is facing
 The Person-Environment Fit Theory is an instrumental piece in explaining how the work of traffic
officers is very important yet quite stressful, thus the need for emotional stability, self-awareness and stress
management skills in their field (Pienaar 2007). According to the principle of person-environment fit, an
individual's qualities interact with their surroundings in such a way that both the individual and the
surroundings are affected. The level to which a person and their environment are compatible can have an impact
on their motivation, behaviour, and overall mental and physical health. If the two are compatible, the person
may perform more effectively; if they are not, the person may experience maladaptation. The theory depicts
three basic distinctions central to P-E fit theory. The first and most basic distinction is between the person and
environment. This distinction is a prerequisite for the conceptualization of P-E fit and provides the basis for
examining reciprocal causation between the person and environment. The second distinction is between
objective and subjective representations of the person and environment. The objective person refers to attributes
of the person as they actually exist, whereas the subjective person signifies the person’s perception of his or her
own attributes (i.e., the person’s self-identity or self-concept). The third distinction involves the fit between the
demands of the environment and the abilities of the person. Demands include quantitative and qualitative job
requirements, role expectations, and group and organizational norms, whereas abilities include aptitudes, skills,
training, time, and energy the person may muster to meet demands. A second type of P-E fit entails the match
between the needs of the person and the supplies in the environment that pertain to the person’s needs. P-E fit
theory characterizes needs in general terms, encompassing innate biological and psychological requirements,
values acquired through learning and socialization, and motives to achieve desired ends (French & R. Kahn,
1962; Harrison, 1985). Knowing the status of the traffic enforcers at work, especially when they are deployed in
each of their fields or locations, would enable the person-environment fit theory to highlight the felt stress
variable in this study. The way they engage with various public and private vehicles, typically in a calm
manner, as well as the other driving-related issues they run with on a daily basis. The impact of the roads on
their health, such as the dust or fumes from the cars and the humid and hot conditions they must endure
Additionally, for handling traffic accidents in a way that could cause them to hurt themselves.

Lastly, Carver and Scheier's (1981, 1998, and 1999) Theory of Self- Regulation also offers further
explanation and connection. The self-regulation theory is defined as the ability for people to control their
behavior, feelings, and thoughts. Self-regulation comes into play when a person must adjust his or her actions to
meet personal goals. Self-regulation theory suggests that people are not procedurally deterministic (i.e., they do
not follow fixed rules). Instead, they respond flexibly to environmental feedback. People often make self-
regulatory choices to better themselves and their current situations. Some examples of self-regulation could be
improving one's health, motivation, concentration, self-control, self-efficacy beliefs, and self-esteem. It is
essential to regulate these items because one will continue with negative behavior if one chooses not to. The
self-regulation theory comprises many components, and one of those components is self-standards. These self-
standards are the goals an individual sets for themselves and attempts to reach in order to be successful at
something. Some examples could be getting a better job, or, developing more self-confidence through sports.
The idea behind self-standards is that people may not always succeed, but they can still go forward even if they
fail because it will make them try their hardest to keep trying. Self-regulation theory breaks down into two
different types of standards: personal standards and outcome standards. Personal standards are what someone
sets for themselves as that they aim to accomplish throughout self-regulation. Outcome standards are what
someone wants to accomplish and the self-standards they aim for. This goes hand in hand with self-efficacy
beliefs because it is the self-standards that help a person self-regulate according to their self-efficacy. Self-
efficacy is how confident one feels at any given time, and if it is high, one will continue to attempt self-
regulation. Self-regulation gives people the power to choose how to act or behave instead of being ruled by
emotions or urges. Through this theory, traffic enforcers in Danao City could regain self-regulation which is an
essential factor in development, learning, achievement, mental health, obesity rates, addiction, crime levels, and
many more things. Self-regulation plays into the thoughts that determine actions that people adapt to fit within
their environment. It is a crucial process that helps the traffic enforcers adapt to situations they face every day.
Statement of the Problem

The study sought to assess the effects of Perceived Stress on Coping Mechanisms among Traffic
Enforcers in Danao City. Specifically, the study aimed to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of Perceived Stress among Traffic Enforcers in Danao City?

2. What is the level of Coping Mechanism among Traffic Enforcers in Danao City?

3. Does perceived stress have an impact on coping mechanisms among Traffic Enforcers in Danao City?

Statement of the Null Hypothesis

At a significance level of 0.05, the researchers hypothesized the following:

Ho - There are no significant effects of Perceived Stress on Coping Mechanism among Traffic Enforcers in
Danao City Cebu.

H- There are significant effects of Perceived Stress on Coping Mechanism among Traffic Enforcers in Danao
City Cebu.

Significance of the Study

The study greatly contributes to the Traffic enforcers in Danao City in identifying the effects of their
perceived stress on coping mechanisms. The study serves as a tool to enhance decision-making in transportation
management, regulation, and safety for all, as well as to start finding solutions to problems related to roadways.
Additionally, the study offers an evaluation of the adaptability of traffic enforcers in order to have effective,
efficient, and safe administration and enforcement of transportation. This study also provides positive effects to
certain people and areas the City of Danao.

The following are those who will benefit from the study:

Traffic enforcers. It gives crucial details about how their sense of duty affects the aspirations of traffic
enforcers and how their duty responds to the peace and security of society. The study also offers various coping
techniques that can enhance respondents' performance, determination, and commitment to their jobs.

Public/Private Drivers. The study presents relevant insights on the sense of duty that traffic enforcers ought to
recognize while assessing the legal liability of their jobs. And upon knowing the obligations of traffic enforcers
in their respective fields of work.

Danaowanons. Through the study, individuals, particularly in Danao, would learn enough about traffic police
lives, particularly in the context of their regular occupations.

Criminology students. The purpose of this course of study is to broaden their perspectives on the various moral
ideals that they may use to direct their future professional and personal lives.
Community. The study will provide them with essential data regarding the sense of duty displayed by traffic
enforcers, particularly in Danao City. It also provides an overview of the responsibilities' restrictions placed on
traffic enforcers.

Researchers. The results of this study are going to help researchers in understanding how Danao City's traffic
enforcers handle perceived stress.

Future Researchers. This study helps future researchers in a way that it serves as basis for the further more
researches on the topic or other researches involving the study.

Scope and Limitations

The study focuses on the Effects of Perceived Stress on Coping Mechanism among Traffic Enforcers in
Danao City Cebu. The respondents of this study are full-time Traffic Enforcers in the City of Danao with ages
30 and above. The research will be conducted in Danao City, Cebu specifically within the vicinity of Traffic
Enforcers’ office.

The researchers have chosen among the full-time Traffic Enforcers in Danao City for the following
reasons: (1) Because the researchers are currently living within the area of Danao City, where they are also
studying, it is more convenient for them to collect data; (2) The researchers, as criminology students, are well
aware of the do’s and don’ts when it comes on dealing with road related problems especially in traffic
management because it is one of the topics that they've tackled during their second year of college.

There are several limitations within the context of this study. The study will be done with a small sample
size and this can be a limitation. The fact that the study will be conducted only in one city will affect the sample
size. Additionally, there is a criteria made by the researchers which will limit as to who can only be the
respondents. Furthermore, the researchers will not be in the position to verify the authenticity of the information
provided by the respondents since the study will be questionnaire-based hence; the outcome of the study should
be interpreted with caution.

Definition of Terms

Perceived Stress is define as the feelings or thoughts that an individual has about how much stress they
are under at a given point in time or over a given time period.

Traffic Enforcers maintain the safety of people who attend on the roads. To make this possible, they
have to make sure all people follow the traffic law, spot the ones who violate the law, and then give them the
proper punishment (also follow the law).

Coping mechanisms are the patterns and behaviors we fall back on to try to deal with unusually
stressful situations. We often lean on these strategies to keep ourselves calm until we adjust to the change.
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