Occupational Stress and Smartphone-Mediated Coping Strategies Among Employees in Selected Work Industries in Laguna

Abstract

The Philippines is among the most digitally active countries in the world, with Filipinos spending extensive time online mainly through smartphones for communication, entertainment, and social media. This high digital engagement has made smartphone use part of daily life, where it may even function as a coping tool for occupational stress. However, the relationship between smartphone use and stress management among employees remains underexplored, especially across different demographic groups in the Philippines. To examine this gap, this study looked at occupational stress and smartphone-mediated coping strategies among employees in various work industries in Laguna, Philippines. It aims to assess stress levels, determine the extent of smartphone use for coping, and identify differences across demographic variables. A quantitative descriptive-comparative and correlational design was used, involving 136 employees, mostly young adults, females, single, and working in service and administrative roles.

Findings showed generally low occupational stress across workmate, supervisory, task, and client-related dimensions. Despite this, smartphones were used extensively for coping, especially for entertainment, music, social connection, and emotional support. A weak but significant positive relationship (r = 0.2993, p = 0.0004) was found between stress and smartphone use, with differences across demographics. Overall, smartphones serve as supplementary coping resources in workplace stress management.