1.7C Problem 6 Summary

1.7 C
Problem 6
Stress- non-specific response of the human body to any demand made
on it
Eustress- good stress
Distress- bad stress
Stressor- physical or psychological demands to which an individual
responds
Strains- reactions or responses to stressors

Workplace stress
 Kahn and Byosiere Model: 3 factors
1. Work stressors
2. Moderators of stress process
3. Strains and Consequences of Stress
 Cannon- animals have adaptive response to stressful situations:
Fight or flight/ Tend and befriend
 Tend and befriend- responding to stress by caring for
relatives, seeking and providing social support
o typical of females as stress response: social support
beneficial for health, so may explain females longer
life expectancy
o Response to sudden stress
o Lasts short period
 Selye- eustress and distress
 eustress makes challenges motivating people to work to meet
goals (+)
 distress is from stressful situations over time, negative
outcome (-)
o Responses to disease/trauma very similar:
General Adaption Syndrome- progression stages
“U-shaped” curve- some demands necessary, too high is
harmful
1. Alarm Reaction- body mobilises resources to cope with
more stress
 Increased heart rate
 Stress hormones released (adrenaline, noradrenaline,
epinephrine, cortisol)
2. Resistance stage- body copes with original stress source,
resistant to other stressors lowered
3. Exhaustion stage- resistance drops
 Adverse consequences inc. burnout, illness, potentially
death
o Bodily response to stress
o Last long period
 Lazarus and Folkman- stress= ongoing process
 Individuals appraise environment and attempt to cope with
stressors
 Appraisal triggers automatic coping responses

, o Health or unhealthy if chronic

Coping Styles
Problem-focused coping- managing or altering the problem that is
causing the stress
Eg. defining problem, trying to solve it
Emotion-focused coping- reducing the emotional response to the
problem
Eg. avoidance, distancing from problem

Common Workplace Stressors
Both can occur at the same time- stressors can be cumulative
1. Physical/Task Stressors
o Uncontrollable noise
 lower task performance, diminished motivation
Study: exposure to low-level noise increases stress hormones
Significance- stressors may exist even when worker isn’t
aware of stressor
o Job demands eg. stressors from personal conflict, fear of
losing job
 Task requirements central demand for most workers
 Working moderate hours not strong predictor of illness,
but shift work is
Study: British employees in call centres- those with heavier
workload likelier have back disorders
2. Psychological Stressors
o Lack of Control/Predictability
 Perception (affected by environment characteristics) of
control/predictability determines response (autonomy)
 Scheduling and pace of work influence feelings of
control
 Flexitime increases perceptions as can help balance
work-family
If enhance perceptions of job control, likely reduce stress
and strain
o Interpersonal Conflict
 Occurs when:
 Sparse work resources
 Incompatible employee interests
 Feeling of unfair treatment for employees
 Distracts workers from tasks, physical health problems,
depression, job dissatisfaction, aggression, theft,
violence
Study: longitudinal, showed significant link between
interpersonal conflict at work and subsequent health
problems
o Role stressors
Role stressors- collective of role ambiguity, role conflict, and
role overload