HUMAN REACTION TO TECHNOLOGY CHANGE
STRESS DEFINITIONS …A NATURAL BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO UNUSUAL DEMANDS. A SURVIVAL MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THE BODY TO ADJUST QUICKLY TO RELEASE ENERGY NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL… FLEE OR FIGHT..
STRESS DEFINITIONS “ STRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM CHALLENGE.” ACCORDING TO NIOSH – STRESS IS “THE HARMFUL PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSES THAT OCCUR WHEN THE REQUIRMENTS OF THE JOB DO NOT MATCH THE CAPABILITIES, RESOURCES, OR NEEDS OF THE WORKER”.
STRESS DEFINITIONS “STRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM CHALLENGE” – NIOSH CHALLENGE ENERGIZES AND MOTIVATES WORKERS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND LEAVES THEM FEELING RELAXED AND SATISFIED. STRESS CREATES AN IMBALANCE THAT CAN TRIGGER A VARIETY OF NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS.
STRESS NONSPECIFIC RESPONSE OF THE BODY TO ANY DEMAND PLACED UPON IT. HANS SELYE
WHAT STRESS???
Stress is: The cause for 40% of job turnover. (Bureau of National Affairs) At least involved in “60 to 90 percent of doctor visits” (Perkins, 1994)
PHYSIOLOGY OF STRESS CIRCULATORY SYSTEM – Increased heart rate Increases “hardening of the arteries”. (Dr. Georg Noll, et al., 2002) Increased Blood Pressure
Stroke – According to the AHA, every minute in the US, a person experiences a stroke. Researchers from the University of Michigan and physicians in Finland studied 2,300 men in Finland. Those subjected to various stressors over 11 years, and whose blood pressure rose from the stressors showed a 72 percent greater chance of stroke (Everson, et al. 2001)
Muscles and Bones Fight or Flight syndrome results in tense muscles. Muscles that are chronically tensed will contract and become shortened. This pulls ligaments, tendons, and joints, creating pain. And what about headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness, and various musculoskeletal pains?
GI System Decreased saliva – or – too much! Increased secretion of stomach acids – nausea, ulcers, diarrhea.
The Immune System Compromised. Decrease in T- Cells and other antibodies. (Kiecolt-Glaser and Glaser, 1993) Ability to fight off colds compromised. ( Cohen, Tyrell, and Smith, 1991)
Asthma Can be triggered by nonallergic triggers such as “stress, fear, fatigue, and anxiety”.
Cancer When people are exposed to chronic stress, white blood cells diminish in number – preventing them from destroying cancer cells.
Depression Depression seems to be a frequent symptom of stress. It is noted that some depression is related to a chemical imbalance – and can be hereditary in nature.
Enough???
STRESS EUSTRESS – INTERPRETED AS POSITIVE DISTRESS – INTERPRETED AS NEGATIVE
STRESS - THE GAS ( GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME) I. FIGHT OR FLIGHT ACTIVATED 2. RESISTANCE 3. ADAPATATION 4. EXHAUSTION
ANOTHER WAY OF VIEWING THIS! SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF STRESS FASTER HEART BEAT INCREASED SWEATING COOL SKIN COLD HANDS AND FEET FEELING OF NAUSEA – BUTTERFLIES IN THE STOMACH RAPID BREATING TENSE MUSCLES DRY MOUTH A DESIRE TO VOID THE BLADDER DIARRHEA
AND SHORT TERM PERFORMANCE EFFECTS: INTERFERES WITH JUDGEMENT REDUCES ENJOYMENT OF WORK INTERFERES WITH MOTOR SKILLS PERCEIVE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AS THREATS, NOT CHALLENGES