Ch. 15

• Stress


  Psychological and physical reaction to certain life events or situations, which as are called stressors
• Strains


  Negative and psychological consequences of stress
• Eustress


  Occurs when stressors result in feelings of challenge or achievement (positive)
• Inverted-U Theory


  Optimal level of arousal; having little arousal or too much arousal results to poor performance; moderate results in highest levels
• Distress


  When there is too much stress and when nothing is done to eliminate, reduce, or counteract its effects (negative)
• Type A Personality


  • Talk and walk fast, gets impatient easily and always in a hurry
  • Characterized by mainly achievement striving, impatience and time urgency, and anger and hostility
• Type B Personality


  • More laid-back, relaxed, and agreeable
• Neurotics


  • Anxious, often depressed, pessimistic, and lack hopefulness
• Women have more stress than men (thus, twice the no. of cases for depression)
• Members of minority groups have higher stress levels
• Stress Sensitization


  The amount of stress you have experienced throughout your life seems to affect how you will handle future stress
• Personal Stressors


  • Fear
  • Resistance
  • Resentment
• Occupational Stressors


  • Role Conflict
  • Role Ambiguity
  • Role Overload
• Organizational Stressors


  • Person-Organization Fit
  • Change
  • Relations with others
  • Organizational politics
• Stressors in the Physical Work Environment

  • Noise
  • Temperature
• Stress Caused by Work Schedules

  • Shift work
  • Moonlighting
• Other Sources of Stress

  • Minor Frustration
  • Forecasting
  • Residual Stress
• Consequences of Stress


  • Impaired decisions we make while under stress can have negative consequences
  • High levels of stress reduces performance on many tasks
  • Burnout – the state of being overwhelmed by stress
  • Higher absenteeism and turnover rate
  • Higher susceptibility to substance abuse
• Managing Stress


  • Exercise
  • Laughter
  • Diet
  • Reduce Smoking
  • Proper Sleep
  • Support Network
  • Self-Empowerment
  • Improving Coping Skills
• Stress Reduction Interventions Related to Life/Work Issues

  • Easing Childcare burden
  • Easing Elder-care burden
  • Easing the Daily-chore burden
  • Providing Rest through Paid Time Off
• Reducing Workplace Violence


  • Security Measures
  • Employee Screening
  • Management Awareness