International Review of Business Research Papers Vol.6, No.1 February 2010, Pp. 30-39 Individual Differences and Mental Health Disorders Among Industrial Workers: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Hayatabad Industrial Estate Peshawar Anwar Khan 1 , Kamran Azam 2 , Subhan Ullah 3 , Salim Khan 4 In order to trace out mental health problems among the workers of Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Peshawar in relation to the individual differences like, gender, age, marital status, parenthood, department, working hours and day/night shifts a cross sectional survey was conducted. A sample of 1153 industrial workers was drawn through multi stage sampling process from a total population of 2156 workers. A self administered Urdu version (G.H.Q-28) was used for data collection. Likert scoring procedure (1, 2, 3, 4) was applied. The total scale score ranged from 28 to 112. The scores for each type of mental health problem were computed by adding the weights assigned to each item. One-way ANOVA analysis (F tests) was used for finding relationship between individual differences and levels of mental health problems. High levels of mental health disorders were present among the female workers (GHQ-28 score: 81). The workers in age group of 20 to 25 (GHQ-28 score: 80), working for 8 to 9 hours (GHQ-28 score: 80), and from production department (GHQ-28 score: 81), had high levels of mental health problems. Mental health disorders like anxiety & depression were more present among workers as compared to somatic complaints and social dysfunctions. Individual differences like age, gender, department, working hours and working shifts have been statistically found significant. This study suggests that awareness about individual differences in relation to mental health disorders is vital to any organization because mental health problems left unchecked often have devastating effects. Both the organizations as well as society can play vital roles in the control of mental health problems by setting proper structures and creation of awareness about mental health problems. Field of Research: Human Resource Management 1. Introduction Mental illness is a psychological set of symptoms that is associated with subjective distress and/or objective impairment. The mental health disorders have been explored from different perspectives like from the psychological, sociological, and medical perspective. From the occupational perspective, the issue of mental health disorders means any behavioral or 1 Lecturer, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Attock, Pakistan. anwar_khan@comsats.edu.pk 2 Lecturer, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Attock, Pakistan. Email: kamran_azam@comsats.edu.pk 3 Lecturer, COMSATS Institute of information Technology, Attock, Pakistan. subhan_ullah@comsats.edu.pk 4 Senior Medical Officer, D.H.Q Hospital, Abbotabad, Pakistan. dr_marwat@hotmail.com