Impact of adversity quotient on stress levels of middle-level managers of non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector

Non-governmental organisations (NGO) around the world operate under highly dynamic and volatile conditions creating workplace adversities that lead to stress. There is a demand for employees who can effectively handle adverse situations under minimal stress levels. Adversity quotient is the measure of the ability of an individual to bounce back and cope with adverse situations encountered. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between levels of stress and adversity quotient of middle-level managers employed in the Sri Lankan NGO sector. The study also examined the difference in levels of adversity quotient due to the demographic factors such as gender and age. Data were collected from 200 samples through self-administered questionnaires, and were analysed using correlation, independent-samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical regression tests. Findings revealed a significant association between adversity quotient and stress of middle-level managers. Age was found to be significantly influencing adversity quotient, however, gender did not record such influence. The study also found that the adversity quotient and age as significant predictors of stress among the middle-level managers in NGO sector.