Effects of Stress

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Effects of Stress

• Psychological
• moodiness, depression, emotional fatigue
• Physiological
• cardiovascular diseases
• ulcers, sexual dysfunction, headaches
• Behavioral
• poor performance, accidents
• absenteeism
• workplace aggression

2
Yerkes-Dodson Law
3
Complex vs. Simple Task (Difficult vs. Easy
Task/Poorly Learned vs. Well Learned Task)
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What Causes You the Most Stress? (2009
Survey)
 
My Job ---------------------------- 26 My
Finances --------------------- 20 My
Relationships --------------- 21 My Children
---------------------- 10 School
------------------------------ 8 Fear of
Disaster/Terror Attack- 3
5
(No Transcript)
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Recent Study of Stress

• 70 of workers said job stress caused frequent
  health problems
• 34 considered quitting because of stress during
  previous year
• 14 quit due to stress during previous two years

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Determinants of Stress

• Experience
• Job Conditions
• Job Events
• Life Events
• Life Conditions
• Personal Characteristics
• Personality
• Coping Behaviors

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Determinants of Stress

• Job Conditions
• Intrinsic to the Job
• Career Development
• Social Relationships within the Organization
• Organization interface with the outside

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Stress and Occupations
Accountant Artist Auto Mechanic Forester
Hospital manager Physician (GP) Psychologist Schoo
l principal
Police officer U.S. president Waiter/waitress Tele
phone operator
Low-Stress Occupations
High-Stress Occupations
Medium-Stress Occupations
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Sources of Stress

• Job Events Life Events
• Even good things can be stressful, because
  change is generally stressful.

11
Workplace Violence

• Severe stress may be both a cause and an effect
  of the violence
• 2 million people experience some form of violence
  at work each year
• Most common cause of work-related death for
  women second most common for men

12
Sources of Stress

• Life Conditions
• Urban Stress Test
• Measures Population Change, Crowding, Education,
  Violent Crime, Unemployment, Per Capita Income,
  Birth Rate, Air Quality, Hazardous Wastes, Water
  Supply Quality, Wastewater Treatment
• Does not include Climate, Cultural Offerings,
  NFL Football

13
Sources of Stress

• Personality
• Type A Behaviors
• High Job Involvement
• Highly Competitive
• Obsessed with Achievement
• Impatient, Work Fast
• More Prevalent in Capitalistic Countries
• e.g., U.S., Canada value efficiency, material
  goods

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Coping with Stress

• GENERAL METHODS
• Primary Prevention
• Change how you do things to remove stressors from
  your life
• Secondary Prevention
• Prepare yourself to withstand stressors
• Treatment
• Treat the stress effects you already have

• EXAMPLES
• Primary Prevention
• Time management, skill enhancement, delegation
• Secondary Prevention
• Exercise, diet, recreation, sleep, relaxation,
  meditation
• Treatment
• Professional help, social support

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Organizational Approaches to Stress

• Selection and Placement
• Training
• Goal Setting
• Job Redesign, Including Empowerment
• Wellness Programs (e.g., weight loss, smoking
  cessation, exercise)
• Stress Counselors