Jurnal Psikologi Tabularasa
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2026): APRIL 2026

The meaning of workload in carrying out field tasks: A Phenomenological Study

Gaby Dara Ayu Salsabillah (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya)
Dewi Ilma Antawati (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya)
Hetty Murdiyani (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Jun 2026

Abstract

Workload in the police environment, particularly among Sat Samapta personnel, has broad physical and psychological implications. The demands of full-time readiness, sudden assignments, and dual responsibilities involving field and administrative duties make workload not only a matter of task volume but also a source of emotional pressure. This study aims to understand the subjective meaning of workload as experienced by members of the Sidoarjo Police Sat Samapta Unit. Using a qualitative approach with Colaizzi's phenomenological method, this study involved six active Sat Samapta personnel selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed to identify the central themes of their work experiences. The findings show that workload is shaped by personnel imbalance, changing organizational policies, and high public expectations. Its impacts include physical fatigue, emotional stress, health problems, and role conflict in personal life. At the same time, personnel demonstrated various coping strategies, including problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, which reflect their efforts to adapt to work pressure. This study highlights the importance of understanding workload as a multidimensional phenomenon involving perception, emotion, and adaptive action. The practical implications of this study point to the need for more humane work policies, balanced task distribution, and psychosocial support to maintain personnel well-being and sustainable police performance.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jpt

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

Jurnal Psikologi Tabularasa is a scientific periodical journal issued by the Faculty of Psychology, University of Merdeka Malang. It is published twice a year, in April and October. The journal's scopes include clinical psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, and industrial & ...