1. Dr. Fred Mugambi Mwirigi JKUAT
Stress Management
Dr. Fred Mugambi Mwirigi
JKUAT

2. What is Stress?
An adaptive response to a situation that is perceived as challenging or threatening to the person’s well-being
Stressors- an environmental condition or stimuli that places physical or emotional demand on a person
Examples
Physical
Emotional

3. Types of stress
Episodic Stress- pattern of high stress followed by intervals of relief
Chronic Stress- constant confrontation of stressors without relief
Effects are:
constant
additive
Distress- stress that has a negative consequence on a person’s well-being

4. General Adaptation Syndrome
Automatic defense system to help cope with with environmental demands
Three stages of adaptation
Alarm reaction- perception of stressor
Resistance- ability to cope rises above normal because of activated defense mechanisms such as adrenaline
Exhaustion- body must rest and recover from heightened resistance stage
Prolonged resistance leads to system breakdown

5. General Adaptation Syndrome
Stage 1
Alarm Reaction
Stage 2
Resistance
Stage 3
Exhaustion
DANGER ZONE
Normal
Level of
Resistance

6. Stressors and Stress Outcomes
over time
Work
Stressors
Physical
environment
Role-related
Interpersonal
Organizational
Nonwork
Individual
Differences
Consequences
of Stress
Physiological
Behavioral
Psychological

7. Role-Related Stressors
Role conflict
Inter-role conflict
Intra-role conflict
person-role conflict
Role ambiguity
uncertain duties, authority
Role overload/underload
Task characteristics
decisions, monitoring, traffic problems

8. Stress Research
Extreme Stress can lead to serious conditions such as cardiovascular problems
Job Control, Job Complexity, Self-Efficacy interact to influence blood pressure
Burnout can also result from stress
Emotional Exhaustion - lack of energy and a feeling that one’s emotional resources are used up
Coping Strategy for emotional buffer
Sense of inadequacy

9. Role-Related Stressors
Job Burnout Process
Interpersonal and
Role-Related Stressors
Emotional
Exhaustion
Physiological,
psychological,
and behavioral
consequences
Depersonalization
Reduced Personal
Accomplishment

10. Factors Leading to Stress
Job Characteristics - client interactions, overload, ambiguity, conflict
Organizational Characteristics - reward and punishment systems, job context (shift, psych environment, etc.)
Personal Characteristics - Age, Social Support, Marriage, Expectations, Career progress

11. Consequences
Attitudinal
Behavioral
Interpersonal

12. Social Support
Social Support- interpersonal transactions with others that provide either emotional or informational support
reduces effects of stress
feel valued
feel capable of handling a situation
buffers effects, someone to talk to, etc.

13. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Leon Festinger 1967
Three aspects of attitudes must follow each other
cognitive aspect- knowledge about an object
affective aspect- liking of the object
behavioral aspect- behavior toward the object
If dissonance is present there is stress and a need to change an aspect of the attitude to produce agreement among the elements

14. Changing Aspects of Attitudes
Affected by level of control
“can I control the aspects of my attitude?”
“Do I have a choice regarding performance of the behavior?”
Behaviors are set by habit and view of others
Ignore current knowledge
Seek knew knowledge
Alter beliefs
Hypocrisy effects level of dissonance

15. Emotional Labor
Experiencing dissonance as a part of an individual’s role
Presenting a friendly attitude while holding a negative attitude
Mainly in service positions where employees must always be “happy”
flight attendants
secretaries
Backstage areas
out of sight of customer

16. Work-Family Stressors
Time-based conflict
due to work schedule, commuting, travel
for women -- still do most household chores
Strain-based conflict
work stress affects home, and vice versa
Role behavior conflict
incompatible work and family roles

17. Top 10 Life Stressors (least to most important)
Retirement or quitting
Marital reconciliation
Loss of a job
Marriage
Personal injury or illness
Death of a family member
Jail Term
Marital Separation
Divorce
Predisposition to death

18. Stress and Occupations
Accountant
Artist
Auto Mechanic
Hospital manager
Physician (GP)
Psychologist
School principal
Police officer
A country’s
president
Waiter/waitress
Low-Stress
Occupations
Medium-Stress
Occupations
High-Stress
Occupations

19. Individual Differences in Stress Management
Perceive the situation differently
Different threshold levels of resistance to stressor
Use of different stress coping strategies
Personality Type

20. Personality Types
Type A- impatient, restless, competitive, aggressive, under intense perceived time pressure, always attempting to accomplish several things at once
need job and career control
have more health problems and shorter careers
Type B- does not feel pressure, works slowly and enjoyably on a variety of tasks
Important to match personality type with position to avoid stress

21. Consequences of Stress
Physiological consequences
50%-75% of all illnesses
Lower for women
cardiovascular diseases
ulcers, sexual dysfunction, headaches
Behavioral consequences
work performance, accidents, decisions
absenteeism -- due to sickness and flight
workplace aggression
Psychological Consequences
moodiness, depression, emotional fatigue

22. Coping with Stress Individual Coping Strategies
Problem focused- solve the problem, don’t procrastinate
Time management- self-management
scheduling, rewards, punishments
Seeking Help
mentoring- process of senior performer coaching a junior one
Change jobs

23. Coping.... Emotion-focused Relaxation Exercise Psychological
meditation
napping
Exercise
Psychological
Employee Assistance Programs
Recreation
Companionship

24. Family-Friendly and Work/Life Initiatives
Flexible work time
Job sharing
Telecommuting
Personal leave
Childcare facilities

25. Other Stress Management Practices
Withdrawing from the stressor
person-job matching
work breaks, stabilization zones, sabbaticals
Changing stress perceptions
self-efficacy, self-leadership
Controlling stress consequences
relaxation and meditation
fitness and lifestyle programs
Social support
emotional and informational

26. End