Dealing with the demands of life and work Learn what stress is Identify common stressors Identify consequences of stress Understand the effects of stress on employee behavior Identify ways to reduce stress Understand stress care programs Understand how stress can be linked to workplace behavior Stress Management: Dealing with the demands of life and work

Thinking Activity This About A Stressful Time In Your Life What was the cause of stress for you? Were there any consequences of feeling extra stressed at the time? What did you do to alleviate the stress?

Your Definition How would you define stress?

Stress Definitions As Stimuli As Responses

Stress Definitions For this class: Stressor- cause of arousal, tension, etc. Strain- effect of or response to the stressor

Stress Definition Constellation of cognitive, emotional, physiological, and behavioral reaction the organism experiences as it interacts with perceived threats and challenges

What is stress? No common definition exists Defined in the book as the psychological or physical reaction to certain life events or situations These events or situations are considered stressors When an event causes a physical &/or psychological reaction, it is considered a strain Eustress versus Distress * This is an important distinction!

Inverted-U stress curve

Predisposition to stress Individual differences exist which can lead to more people being susceptible to stress

Stress Related to Personality Type A personalities More likely than others to exhibit high blood pressure and high levels of stress related hormones Slower to recover from stressors Type B personalities More laid back, when a stressor occurs they are better at keeping it in perspective and using positive ways to deal with it Neuroticism More likely to perceive stress negatively than those who are emotionally stable

sTRESSORS are all around us!

sTRESSORS are all around us!

Stress Related to demographics Gender, Race & Ethnicity Women may experience certain stressors more than men Members of racial minority groups experience cardiovascular problems Stress Sensitization Life experiences More severe more likely to reach quickly

Sources of stress Personal Fear: Money, work, relationships Resistance: Don’t want to lose structure and security Resentment: no control over life can cause resentment

Occupational Stressors Job characteristics Role conflict Role ambiguity Role overload Organizational stressors Person-organization fit Organizational changes Work relationships Organizational Politics (self serving behaviors to increase outcomes for self)

Stressors in the physical work environment Pleasantness Task Difficulty Individual differences Familiarity How to influence noise? 90 decibals is the legal limit Carpeting and acoustic ceilings Wearing protective ear plugs and muffs

Stressors in the Physical Work Environment Factors determining the effects of noise on employee behavior Effects on employee behavior Frequency of sound Continuity of noise Continuity of noise level Difficulty of task Type of task Sensitivity to noise Necessity of noise Predictability of noise

Stressors in the Physical Work Environment Temperature (70 F) Some jobs require working conditions in extreme heat or extreme cold Body may have to constantly adjust its own temperature Effects on tasks: High or low Performance can drop nearly 15% when temperature rises above 90 or below 50 degrees Rest periods: Temperature will have an effect when the activity is continuous rest breaks can help

Shift work Circadian rhythms Sleep problems Fatigue Accidents and injuries Gastrointestinal disorders Cardiovascular risk Cancer risk Low performance

Shift work Uniqueness of the shift Fixed vs rotating shift: fixed shifts fewer sleep problems Frequency of rotation: daily, weekly, monthly? Individual differences: Chronotypes-morning person or night person?

MOONLIGHTING COMPRESSED WORK WEEKS RESULTS IN FATIGUE Moonlighting-working two or more jobs Slash careers-having 2 careers more satisfying However extra work influences performances

Other sources Minor frustrations Forecasting: “what if”? Residual stress: “refusal to let go past”

Job and life dissatisfaction Work Family Conflict Causes Inflexible or overloaded work schedules Negative affectivity Interventions Flexible work schedules On-site child care Consequences Absence and lateness Anxiety & depression Health symptoms Job and life dissatisfaction From Intro to Industrial Psych text and Occupational Health Chapter Slides Work/ Family Conflict is increasing in importance There are Increasingly diverse workplaces with higher populations of women, single parents, & dual-career couples 3 areas of research or perspectives: The effect of work on family e.g., job stress and work schedules having a negative effect on families The effect of family on work e.g., family responsibility seen as a major determinant of work absenteeism & tardiness The family-work interaction e.g., transition between roles 3 models used to explain the relationship: 1. Spillover model similarity between what occurs in the work environment & family environment positive relationship  work satisfaction enhance family life 2. Compensation model inverse relationship b/w work and family What is lacking in one is made up for in other. 3. Segmentation model work and family are distinct, exist side by side

Work Family Conflict Preventative Interventions On Site Day Care 1,400 on or near site day care centers Providing Resources Some companies provide the information about services (e.g., elder care), or assist in coordinating services (e.g., nursing, travel) Family Medical Leave Act (1993) Companies provide up to 12 weeks unpaid leave with guarantee of comparable job for employee upon return

Personal consequences of stress Psychological Depression Anxiety Anger Sleep Physical Illness Cardiovascular problems Headaches Joint pain

Organizational Consequences of stress Job performance Burnout Signs of burnout Less energy Apathy Lower productivity Consistently late for work Dread of coming to work Forgetfulness Absenteeism/ Turnover Drug and Alcohol abuse Health care costs

Managing Stress You should always prepare for stress in a healthy way before, during, and after stress Several ways to achieve this goal: Exercise Diet Mediation Relaxation techniques

Prevention and Intervention physical fitness, exercise, meditation, & time management programs Intervention 3 Approaches Remove/reduce Stressor Change individual perception about stressor (Turn a negative thought into a challenge) Symptom management (alleviate effects) 2 Types of Strategies Individual and Organizational From Work Stress – pg 202 3 Approaches Remove/reduce Stressor Change individual perception about stressor Symptom management (alleviate effects) 2 Types of Strategies Individual and Organizational

Other Strategies Bring your pet to work day Casual Friday Toys (bouncy balls, putty, stress balls) Book Club Can you think of any others?

Measuring Stress Occupational Stress Inventory Maslach Burnout Inventory Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale Organizational Constraints Scale Quantitative Workload Inventory Physical Symptoms Inventory Sample items from stress questionnaires Do you frequently get angry or irritable? Do you often take on too much responsibility at work? I have trouble sleeping at work I fell tense and on the edge Are you sad a lot and don’t know why? I feel emotionally drained. I have been unable to focus on my work.