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Sexual harassment on public transport puts women at risk of mental health problems, apart from disrupting their lives and the harmful social consequences. This is especially the case for Pakistani women, for whom sexual harassment has been on the rise for the past decade. This study aims to explore how Pakistani women use strategies to cope with sexual harassment when using public transport and its mediating role in their issues with mental health.

Given that the data collection task on such a culturally sensitive topic was crucial, a mobile application for anonymized data collection was used, which appeared to be an effective strategy. Using the mobile application, 1,054 women who use public transport submitted their responses; however, the analysis is based on 250 usable responses. Their experience of harassment was measured using the Sexual Harassment Experience Questionnaire, their mental health using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and their coping strategies by the Brief Cope Inventory.

The results indicate that adaptive coping is a significant negative mediator between sexual harassment and mental well-being, whereas maladaptive coping is non-significant. Adaptive coping, i.e. “Acceptance” to admit the reality that the problem exists with all, and “Religion” to seek help spiritually to deal with the problem. Unfortunately, the findings show no suitable coping means to deal with the impact of sexual harassment on women who travel on public transport. This study also illustrates that using the right technologies can encourage participants to submit responses for culturally sensitive topics.

This study provides insight into the experience of street harassment in Pakistani women and how it is related to mental health. This study also explores the role of adaptive and maladaptive coping as an intervening variable between street harassment and mental health.

This paper aims to introduce the concept of Islamic locus of control (ILoC) and explores its influence on individual behavior within organizational contexts. It aims to integrate Islamic values into the traditional understanding of LoC and investigate how ILoC affects motivation, responsibility and resilience among Muslim individuals in the workplace.

Using a conceptual approach, this paper draws from Islamic sources such as the Qur’an and Hadith, as well as literature on psychology, human resource management and Islamic theology. It synthesizes relevant theories and concepts to develop a comprehensive understanding of ILoC and its significance in organizational settings.

ILoC encompasses key dimensions including ikhtiyar (effort), tawakkul (reliance on Allah) and qadr (Divine Decree), which shape individuals’ perceptions of control and action within organizations. Individuals with a high ILoC are expected to exhibit greater motivation, responsibility and resilience, while also maintaining acceptance of Allah’s decree.

Future research should focus on developing valid measurement instruments for assessing ILoC and conducting empirical studies to test its impact on organizational outcomes.

Understanding and fostering a supportive environment for individuals with a high ILoC can enhance motivation, responsibility and overall productivity within Islamic organizations.

Promoting an environment that respects and integrates religious beliefs can contribute to social cohesion and harmony within diverse organizational settings.

This paper contributes to the existing literature by introducing the novel concept of ILoC and offering insights into its implications for organizational behavior within Islamic contexts. It bridges the gap between psychology, human resource management and Islamic theology, providing a unique perspective on how religious beliefs influence individual behavior in the workplace.