Ch. 6 - Stress Flashcards
Stress
A psychological response to demands where there is something at stake and where coping with the demands taxes or exceeds a person’s capacity or resources
Are managers often more stressed than employees?
Yes. Managers are 21% more likely than the average employee to describe their jobs as stressful.
Stressors
Demands that cause a stress response
Strains
Negative consequences of the stress response
Transactional Theory of Stress
Explains how stressful demands are perceived and appraised. Also examines how people respond to the perceptions of appraisal.
What are the 4 main types of stressors outlined in the Transactional Theory of Stress?
-Work Hindrance Stressors
-Work Challenge Stressors
-Nonwork Hindrance Stressors
-Nonwork Challenge Stressors
Primary Appraisal
Evaluation of whether a demand is stressful. If it is, the implications of the stressor in terms of personal goals and well-being are evaluated
What are the most stressful jobs?
-Enlisted Military Personnel
-Firefighter
-Newspaper Reporter
What are the least stressful jobs?
-Tenured University Professor
-Audiologist
-Medical Records Technician
A student procrastinates on their homework, and they stay all night to finish it. What are the stressor(s) and the strain(s)?
Stressor: A lot of work in little time
Strains: Lower quality work, Lack of sleep for next day
Benign Job Demands
Job demands that are not appraised as being stressful
Hindrance Stressors
Stressors that tend to be appraised as hindering progress toward growth and achievement
What is the most stressful life event one could experience?
Death of a spouse/child
Coping
The behaviours and thoughts people use to manage stressful demands and the emotions associated with those demands.
What is the relationship between Hindrance Stressors and Job Performance
Weak negative correlation
What is the relationship between Hindrance Stressors and Organizational Commitment?
Strong negative correlation
What is the relationship between Challenge Stressors and Job Performance?
Weak positive relationship
What is the relationship between Challenge Stressors and Organizational Commitment?
Moderate positive correlation
What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
-Providing Resources (training interventions & supportive practices)
-Reducing Strains (relaxation techniques, cognitive-behavioural techniques)
-Health & Wellness Programs
Behavioural Coping
Physical activities used to deal with a stressful situation (eg. working harder, venting anger)
Cognitive Coping
Thoughts used to deal with a stressful situation
Problem-focused coping
Behaviours and cognitions of an individual intended to manage the stressful situation itself.
Emotion-focused coping
Behaviours and cognitions of an individual intended to help manage emotional reactions to the stressful demands
Challenge Stressors
Stressors that tend to be appraised as opportunities for growth and achievement
Role Conflict
People have different expectations of what an individual need to do in a role (a work hindrance stressor)
Role Ambiguity
A lack of direction and information about what needs to be done in a role (work hindrance stressor)
Role Overload
An excess of demands on an employee preventing them from working effectively (work hindrance stressor)
Type A Behaviour Pattern
Present in people who tend to experience more stressors, to appraise demands as more stressful, and to be prone to experiencing more strains than most others.
Physiological Strains
Reactions from stressors that harm the human body (includes high blood pressure and aches)
Psychological Strains
Negative psychological reactions from stressors such as depression, anxiety, and anger
Burnout
The emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion from coping with stressful demands on a continuous basis.
Behavioural Strains
Patterns of negative behaviours associated with other strains (includes substance abuse and teeth grinding)
