12. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Flashcards
what is stress
an adaptive response to a situation that is perceived as challenging or threatening t a person’s wellbeing
a dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with an opportunity, constraint or demand related to what he or she desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important
what responses does stress include?
cognitive, emotional and physiological
what is the process of stress with regard to performance
boredom/depression -> increased attention/interest -> optimal performance -> strong anxiety -> complete meltdown
when is performance high with regard to the process of stress and performance?
optimal performance between increased attention/interests and strong anxiety
what are stressors
environmental conditions that place physical or emotional demands on people
what are challenge stressors?
stressful aspects of tasks that have potential gains
what are examples of challenge stressors?
high workload
responsibility
time pressure
difficult times
what is hindrance stressors
aspects that interfere with goal achievement
what are examples of hindrance stressors
workplace politics
faulty equipment
red tape
what does challenge stress lead to?
positively to organizational commitment and job satisfaction
negatively to turnover and withdrawl
what does hindrance stressors lead to?
positively to turnover and withdrawl
negatively to organistional commitment and job satisfaction
what is general adaption syndrome?
- alarm - initial physiological reaction
- resistance - utilise physical and psychological defences
- exhaustion - collapse of physical and psychological defences
where is homeostasis in the general adaptation syndrome?
at the peak of the resistance stage
what is the demand control model?
where there are job demands and controls
what are job demands
extent of workload and time pressure
what are job controls?
extent of autonomy and discretion
what are high strain jobs
high demands with low control
what are the consequences of high strain jobs?
- higher depression
- high exhaustion
- lower job satisfaction
what are examples of high strain jobs?
waitperson
phone sales
assembly worker
what are examples of active jobs?
lawyer
engineer
doctor
what are active jobs?
high job demand high job control
what are passive jobs?
low job demands
low job control
what are examples of passive jobs
security monitor
traffic controller
what are low strain jobs
high job control
low job demands
what are examples of low-strain jobs?
researcher
dentist
architect
what is the work stress model?
where there are sources of stress and consequences of stress
what are sources of stress in the work stress model?
environmental
organisational
personal
what is the environmental source of stress?
technological change physical conditions (noise, heat light)
what is the organisational source of stress?
harrassment
task control
work overload
what is personal source of stress
family problems
economic problems
what do sources of stress lead to?
stress exerience
what is the individual difference?
moderator - locus of control and personality
what are the consequences of stress?
behavioural
psychological
physiological
what is the behavioural consequence of stress?
productivity
absenteeism
turnover
waht is the psychological consequence of stress?
depression
anxiety
job burnout
what is the physiological consequence of stress?
cardiovascular
gastrointestinal
biochemical
what are common workplace stressors?
harassment
work overload
low task control
what is harassment
can be sexual or psychological
it is a repeated, hostile, unwanted conduct or comments that attacks on a person’s dignity, psychology or body
how many australians over 15 experience sexual harrassment?
over 20%
where 33% are women
9% are men
how many women experienced sexual harrassment at work?
25% of the 20%
how many men experienced sexual harassment at work?
16% of the 20%
what percentage of people made a formal report or complaint about sexual harassment in the workplace?
20%
what percentage of people sought support or advice about sexual harrassment in the workplace?
29-30%
what are causes of work overload?
technology
aspirations and consumerism
‘ideal worker’ norm
how is technology a stressor?
increases expectations for being contactable (and responding)
how are aspirations and consumerism a stressor?
more work often means more money and more money means being able to buy more things
how is the ‘ideal worker’ norm a stressor?
long hours in the office labels you as a commited worker
how does low task control cause stress?
through low control over how work is done
low control over pace of work
low control over time of work
what are moderators of stress?
the internal vs external locus of control?
what is the internal locus of control?
personal outcomes are a result of one’s own effort
what is the external locus of control?
personal outcomes are beyond one’s control
which locus of control is perceived to lower stress?
the internal locus
what is the big 5 personality factors?
OCEAN openness conscientiousness extraverted agreeablness neutoticism
which of the 5 personality factors predicts higher self-reported stress and more intense reaction to stressors?
neuroticism
what are the categories for consequences of stress?
short term and long term
what are symptoms of short term stress?
o Worrying
o Doubting ability to perform required tasks
o Sleep disturbances
o Feeling sick in the stomach
o Headache
o Moodiness (particularly with friends, and family)
o Increased heart rate
what is long term stress
chronic stress
what are behavioural consequences of chronic stress?
impaired performance
counterproductive behaviours such as absenteeism, sabotage, dishonesty/theft
what are psychological consequences of chronic stress
impaired concentration, memory, depression, emotional exhaustion, failure to engage with others, personal accomplisment
what is emotional exhaustion?
cannot deal with emotional work demands
“i feel emotionally drained in my work”
cynicism
an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; scepticism
“i am afraid the job is making me uncaring”.
how is personal accomplishment impaired by chronic stress
feel incompetent and unsuccessful
“i have accomplished many worthwhile things in this job (reversed)”
what are physiological consequences of chronic stress
cardiovascular
gastrointenstinal
biochemicals
what are cardiovascular consequences of chronic stress?
increased blood pressure, HR and cholesterol
what is gastrointestinal consequences of chronic stress?
digestive problems, ulcers
what are biochemical consequences of chronic stress?
increased “stress” hormones
what is the stress hormone?
cortisol
what are long term physiological effects of chronic stress
heart disease, weaker immune system
how does one manage stress>
through primary, secondary and tertiary interventions
primary interventions
reduce the stressor
secondary interventions
improve people’s responses to inevitable stressors
tertiary interventins
reduce the damaging consequences of stress
how does one reduce the stressor?
work redesign to remove the stressor and increase autonomy
cognitive reconstructing - change perceptions of the stressors by highlighting challenge aspects rather than hinderance aspects. strategies for breaking tasks
what is involved in secondary interventions with managing stress?
general health and wellbeing
emotion focused coping
problem focused coping
how can general health and wellbeing decrease stress?
exercise and diet
how can we manage stress through emotion focused coping?
through emotional/appraisals social support
avoiding, minimising or distracting self from stressor
mindfulness, meditation, relaxation
what is emotional/appraisal social support?
sympathy and caring for emotional needs and building self esteem
how can we manage stress through problem focused coping?
instrumental/informational social support
training in conflict resolution or time-management skills
stress inoculation
what is instrumental/informational social support?
direct practical help to manage stressor / problem
what is involved in stress inoculation
education
rehearsing
application
what is education in stress inoculation?
understanding your typical reactions to stressors
what is rehearsing in stress inoculation
learning coping skills e.g. time management, relaxation
what is application in stress inoculation?
applying these skills in realistic simulations
what is involved in tertiary interventions when managing stress?
employee assistance programs (EAPs)
what does EAPs provide?
personal life counselling
support for dealing with harassment, bullying and discrimination
what can EAPs provide assistance with through personal life counselling?
relationships, family, financial issues
alcohol, drug abuse, gambling programs
what can be done at work to reduce stress?
- Be realistic: set practical goals
- Establish limits for time and effort you want to exert
- Learn to say NO without feeling guilty
- Learn to delegate responsibility where possible
- Learn (and use) time management techniques
- Learn strategies to overcome procrastination
- Establish clear priorities
- Establish a balance between work, home and friends
- Find time to exercise
what can be done outside of work to manage stress?
• Increase or maintain physical exercise
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Relaxation training
• Expand (or use) social support networks
o Based on Robbins & Judge, (2015); McShane et al., (2013)
what can organisations do to manage stress?
- Improved personnel selection and job placement
- Training
- Use of realistic goal setting
- Job redesign
- Employee involvement programs
- Offering employee sabbaticals
- Establish corporate wellness programs
