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Stress & Well-being in the Workplace. Module from SIOP. A Basic Stress Process Model. Stressor. Experienced Stress. Strain. Stressors = stimuli that force us to adapt or change
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Stress & Well-being in the Workplace Module from SIOP
A Basic Stress Process Model Stressor Experienced Stress Strain • Stressors = stimuli that force us to adapt or change • Experienced stress = physiological and psychological perception of “being stressed” (e.g., faced with more demands than we think we can handle) • Strain = threat or damage to our psychological and physical well-being
Why Relevant in the Workplace? • Most people spend at least 1/3 of their lives at work • This makes the workplace a dominant source of demands or stressors • The workplace can also be a dominant source of reward and other resources that support our psychological well-being • Unfortunately, chronic (recurring) exposure to stressors within the job environment can be really damaging over time
Stress & Well-being at Work • Stress associated with work demands is a major health issue that can negatively impact the wellbeing of workers in any occupation. • A good deal of research also shows that stress caused by work can spillover or crossover and have negative impacts at home (and vice versa) • Work stress has also been linked to biological/physiological changes, attitudinal changes, and detriment to overall psychological well-being
Stress & Well-being • As a field of study, stress and wellbeing is tremendously broad and multidisciplinary. • It cannot be fully understood from any single perspective or orientation • The best research and intervention efforts in this area stem from collaborations between: • Psychologists • Public health professionals • Industrial hygienists • Occupational medicine professionals, etc.
Example Topics Work stress research is tremendously varied, with related topics including: • Personality as a predictor of stress-reactivity • Work environment features as causes of stress • Work-to-family and family-to-work conflict • Link between stress and cardiovascular disease • Link between stress and workplace injuries • Recovery processes associated with work stress
Class Discussion • Have you ever worked in a job that was often “stressful”? Why do you think it felt this way so frequently? • What would a very high stress or low stress occupation look like to you? • What strategies do you use currently to manage the stress you feel related to your work as a student? Do you think these same strategies will work for you once you are in a full-time job outside of school?
Further Reading & Resources • Society for Occupational Health Psychology: http://www.sohp-online.org • Sonnentag, S., & Frese, M. (2003). Stress in Organizations. In W. C. Borman & D. R. Ilgen (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Industrial and organizational psychology (Vol. 12) (pp. 453-491). New York: John Wiley & Sons. • Viner, R. (1999). Putting Stress in Life: Hans Selye and the Making of Stress Theory. Social Studies of Science, 29(3), 391-410. doi:10.1177/030631299029003003