STRESS AND WELLBEING AT WORK

By: Mark Angelo Gregana, RN

What is STRESS?
Stress the unconscious preparation to fight or flee that a
person experiences when faced with any demand
A state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in
your life,work,etc
Stressor the person or event that triggers the stress
response
Distress (or strain) the adverse psychological, physical,
behavioral, and organizational consequences that may
arise as a result of stressful events

STRESS!!!!!
when the demands of the job and

the working environment on a

person exceeds their capacity to
meet them and
the reaction people have to
excessive pressures or other
types of demands placed on
them.

Effects of STRESS
increased absenteeism (of which stress is the biggest

cause)
low motivation
reduced productivity
reduced efficiency
faulty decision-making
poor industrial relations

4 APPROACHES TO STRESS

Homeostatic/Medical
Stress occurs when an external
demand upsets an individuals
natural, steady-state balance.

COGNITIVE APPRAISAL
Individuals differ in

their appraisal of
events and people
What is stressful for
one person is not for
another
Perception and
cognitive appraisal
determines what is
stressful

COGNITIVE APPRAISAL

Problem-focused coping
emphasizes managing
the stressor

Emotion-focused coping
emphasizes managing
your response

PERSON-ENVIRONMENT FIT
Confusing and conflicting expectations

in a social role create stress.

Good person-environment fit occurs

when ones skills and abilities match a

clearly defined set of role expectations.

Stress occurs when expectations are

confusing or when they conflict with

ones skills.

PSYCHOANALYTIC
Discrepancy between the idealized self
and the real self-image

The Stress Response

Release of chemical
messengers

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Activation of
sympathetic
nervous and
endocrine
systems

Stress at work
Stress prevention and control is an
essential part of the effective
management of people at work

Sources of Stress: Work Demands

Stress Source: Nonwork Demands

Positive Stress
Stress response itself is neutral
Some stressful activities (aerobic exercise,

etc.) can enhance a persons ability to

manage stressful demands or situations
Stress can provide a needed energy boost

2013 Cengage Learning

Yerkes-Dodson Law

2013 Cengage Learning

Individual Distress
e ss
n
l
l
i
l
a
Medic se, strokes,
ea
s
i
s)
e
d
h
t
c
r
a
a
e
(h
ack
b
,
s
e
ch
a
d
a
e
h

Beh
avi o
(sub ral pro
viole stance a blems
nce,
b
acci use,
dent
s)

Work-related psychological disorders

(depression, burnout,
psychosomatic disorders)

2013 Cengage Learning

Organizational Distress
Participative Problems a cost associated
with absenteeism, tardiness, strikes and
work stoppages, and turnover

Stress
effects
a companys
bottom line

Performance Decrement a cost resulting

from poor quality or low quantity of
production, grievances, and unscheduled
machine downtime and repair
Compensation Award an organizational
cost resulting from court awards for job
distress

Preventative Stress Management

an organizational philosophy
according to which people and
organizations should take joint
responsibility for promoting
health and preventing distress
and strain

Preventative Stress Management

Primary Prevention the stage in preventive stress
management designed to reduce, modify, or eliminate
the demand or stressor
Secondary Prevention the stage in preventive
stress management designed to alter or modify the
individuals or the organizations response to a
demand or stressor
Tertiary Prevention the stage in preventive stress
management designed to heal individual or
organizational symptoms of distress and strain

Organizational Stress Prevention

Job redesign
Goal setting
Role negotiation
Social support systems

Individual Preventive
Stress Management

What Can Managers Do?

Learn how to create healthy stress without

distress
Help employees adjust to new
technologies
Be sensitive to early signs of distress
Be aware of gender, personality, and
behavioral differences
Use principles and methods of preventive
stress management