CHAPTER FOURTEEN

WORK STRESS

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 STRESS DEFINITION

Stress is a dynamic condition in which

an individual is confronted with an
opportunity, constraint or demand
related to what he or she desires and
for which the outcome is perceived to
be both uncertain and important

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 STRESS DEFINITION
by Hellriegel et al
 Stress is a consequence of or a general
response to an action or situation that
places special physical or psychological
demands, or both, on a person.
 The physical or psychological demands
from the environment that cause stress
are STRESSORS.

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 GENERAL ADAPTATION
SYNROME (Hans Selye)

1. Alarm reaction
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion

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 CAUSES OF STRESS

A. work related stressors

 Physical environment stressors
 Role-related stressors
 Interpersonal stressors
 Organizational stressors
B. Non work stressors

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 STRESS & OCCUPATION

 President of USA
 Surgeon
 Traffic Cop.
 Air traffic controller
 Waiters

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 INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES THE
MODERATE STRESS

 Type A personality
 Locus of Control
 Experience

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 PSYSIOLOGICAL
CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRESS
 Heart disease
 Ulcer
 High BP
 Headaches
 Sleep disturbances
 More illnesses

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 PSYCHOLOGICAL
CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRESS
 Job dissatisfaction
 Depression
 Exhaustion
 Moodiness
 Burnout

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 BURNOUT

Job burnout is the process of

emotional exhaustion,
depersonalization and reduced
personal accomplishment resulting
from pronged exposure to stress.

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 BEHAVIOURAL
CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRESS

 Low job performance

 More accident
 Faulty decisions
 Higher absenteeism
 Work place agression

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 IS WORK STRESS BAD?

 Initially with rising stress performance rises.

 This positive aspect of stress is Eustress
 At an optimum stress level performance is
maximum
 Beyond the optimum point with increasing
stress performance falls.
 This negative aspect of stress is distress.

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 INDIVIDUAL STRATEGIES FOR
COPING WITH STRESS
 Readjust life goals
 Social support
 Plan life in advance
 Physiological fitness
 Meditation
 Bio feedback

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 ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES
FOR COPING WITH STRESS
 Health maintenance
 Selection & placement
 Job enrichment
 Equitable performance appraisal &
reward
 Participation in decision making
 Building team work
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