Chapter 6: Stress & Wellbeing

What is the stress process?

1. Begins with stressors

→ causes stress

→ causes strains

What are stressors, stress, & strains??

Stressors: Demands that cause stress

Stress: Psychological response to demands that tax/exceed one’s capacity

Strains: The outcome/consequences of stress

• the reaction to stress

What are strains?

The outcome/consequences of stress

• the reaction to stress

What is the transactional theory of stress?

Things experienced at work & out of work that cause stress!

• Hindrance stressors in work & out of work

• Challenge stressors in work & out of work

What are hindrance stressors? (at work & non-work)

These stressors are debilitating

• hinder goals

Work:

• role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, daily hassles

Non-work

• work-family conflict, negative life events, financial uncertainty

What are challenge stressors? (at work & non-work)

Stressors that are positive

• energizing/motivating to help achieve goals

Work:

• time pressure, work complexity, work responsibility

Non-work:

• family-time demands, personal development, positive life events

What is primary & secondary appraisal?

Primary: is this stressful?

Secondary: how do I cope?

What is role conflict?

Conflicting demands/expectations

• ex. evaluation on how quick you take calls & on customer satisfaction

What is role ambiguity?

Unclear expectations

• ex. starting a new job with no training

What is role overload?

Too many responsibilities/demands

What are daily hassles?

Daily minor hindrances that add up

• lead to stress

• ex. losing wifi every hour

What is interpersonal conflict?

• Difficult co-workers

• Harassment/bullying

What are working conditions?

• physical/environmental

• psychological/procedural

What is work-family conflict?

When pressures of work and pressures of home conflict 

What are negative life events?

Anything negative that happens in your life that impacts work

• ex. divorce, death of relative

What is financial uncertainty?

Lack of financial security for future

• anything financial outside of work

• ex. partner loses job

What is time pressure?

Deadlines that pushes you into doing work

What is work complexity?

Work that requires skills

• problem solving, new type of work

What is work responsibility?

Being reliable/accountable for tasks at work

What are family-time demands?

Expectations on family time that can strain balancing work

What is personal development?

Tasks/demands that allow opportunity for self growth

What are positive life events?

Positive changes that cause stress but seen as beneficial

• ex. marriage, new job

What are psychological strains?

Caused by stress:

• Anger, anxiety, frustration, depression, job dissatisfaction, reduced affective commitment, difficult concentrating

What do strains lead to?

Burnout

Causes: emotional, mental, physical exhaustion

Leads to: cynicism, low self-efficacy

What are physical strains?

Physical reactions to stress

• dizziness, headaches, tight muscles, pounding heart, stomach distress, difficulty sleeping, short of breath, illness, death

What are behavioural strains?

Behavioural reactions to stress

• accidents at work, performance changes (lack of concentration)

• substance abuse, absenteeism, turnover, aggression, counterproductive work behaviours

What are behaviour methods to coping with stressors?

Acting differently

Problem focused:

• working harder, seek assistance, get more resources

Emotion focused:

• engage in other activities, seek support, vent anger

What are cognitive methods to coping with stressors?

Thinking differently

Problem focused:

• strategizing, self-motivation, change priorities

Emotion focused:

• avoid, distance, ignore; look for positive in negative; reappraising what’s important

How can you reduce & manage stress?

Work planning:

• Decrease/compress work-week

• flextime, flexplace (work from home)

• personal days/hours

• job sharing

• part-time work

Health & wellness programs

Work training:

• knowledge, skills, interactions (civility)

What is the role of personality in stress?

Personality differences can vary how people perceive stressors

• ex. type A will have more intense/heightened reactions to stress

What is social support?

Seeking help to mitigate/dampen stressor or your reaction to stress

• instrumental & emotional

• more effective if received from workplace