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This paper reports the results of a study conducted at a U.S. Naval Base in California. The specific objective was to evaluate sick leave usage patterns and to test seven hypotheses regarding the conditions under which sick leave was used and the types of individuals who used it.

The psychometric properties and factor structure of a 15-item self-reporting instrument measuring perceptions of stress precipitators was investigated in a sample of 146 female Senior Executive Service employees of the U.S. federal government. A four factor solution was found to best represent the sample. Additionally, cluster analysis revealed the presence of three relatively homogeneous subgroups of sample respondents, based on the source and level of their perceived stress. It was found that "concerns about one's performance" was the highest ranked stressor, followed by concerns about work load, responsibility and authority ambiguities, and the fear of making the wrong decision. The cluster analysis resulted in three groups of stress patterns. The highest stress group included women who put the job above all else, the second highest group had a high propensity for job achievement, and the lowest stress group represented women who placed a high emphasis on self-actualization and "out-side" job considerations.

This article reports the results of an exploratory study of perceptions of organizational stress among U.S. military officers stationed in Germany. The sample data were analyzed by item comparisons, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. Work load, work design, job qualifications, performance evaluation, and organization structure were identified as stress precipitators. The cluster analysis yielded three groups of individuals with different stress-frequency patterns. These groups were labeled achievement-centered, organization-centered, and self-actualization-centered. Directions for future research are discussed within the context of an increasing rate of change in military organizations.