Indoor Air Quality in Relate with Self Efficacy and Stress Level Onboard Royal Malaysian Navy Warship: Influence of Demographic Factor

This study examines the relationship between indoor air quality (IAQ), self-efficacy, and stress levels among crew members aboard the Royal Malaysian Navy warship KD JEBAT, with particular attention to demographic factors. A structured questionnaire served as the primary instrument, incorporating the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and IAQ components based on ICOP 2010. Three hypotheses were developed to test the influence of gender, period of service onboard, and age on IAQ in related to self-efficacy and stress levels. Data from 150 respondents were analyzed using SPSS, including normality testing, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. Results showed statistically significant differences for gender (Ha₁) and period of service (Ha₂), indicating both factors influence how IAQ relates to stress and self-efficacy. However, no significant difference was found for age (Ho₃ retained). Thus, female personnel reported higher stress and lower self-efficacy than their male counterparts, while those serving longer durations onboard experienced greater psychological impacts. Respondents with less than six months of service were excluded to control for adaptation effects. Despite the exclusion of clinical data, the study provides valuable numerical evidence to support the integration of IAQ considerations into naval health policies. This research contributes to enhancing awareness of environmental and psychosocial risk factors in military settings and supports Malaysia’s occupational safety goals. Future research should incorporate systematic IAQ monitoring and clinical stress markers to improve the accuracy of health assessments and promote sustainable working environments for naval personnel.