Stress, Alcoholism, and Drug Abuse Flashcards
What is stress?
Refers to the external forces that place tension on an object. Stress is a person’s reaction to any demand or event that seems to be threatening or challenging. It is the non-specific response of the body to any demand, whether it caused by, or results in, pleasant or unpleasant conditions.
What is the difference between distress and eustress?
Distress: Stress caused by negative factors (e.g. poor academic results).
Eustress: The pleasant side of stress caused by positive factors (e.g. going on holiday). That extra motivation to do something that is out of our comfort zone.
What are the causes of stress?
The individual
Life Changes
Organisational conditions
What is meant by the individual?
An individuals ability to deal with stress and the way he/she experiences different levels of stress will depend on his/her temperament.
What is meant by life changes?
Relocation of home due to work changes or lifestyle changes
A shift in personal financial situation
Lack of social support system
Falling pregnant or having a miscarriage experiencing sexual difficulties
A change in one’s personal habits
Serious illness of a family member or close friend
A death in the family or of a close friend
Short- or long-term strained relationships
Divorce of parents (or of a sibling or child)
Climate Change (increased natural disasters, and droughts)
Covid-19 pandemic.
What is meant by organisational conditions?
Unpleasant work environment:
noise pollution; extreme hot or cold temperatures; poor ventilation; faulty equipment; inadequate internet access; exposure to toxic gases; hard physic;d labour; long working hours or dangerous working conditions (caused by heights, electrical wires and fire hazards) trigger continuous stress for workers.
Inappropriate job design:
lack of training; insufficient information given on job expectations; no involvement in decision making. The quantity or quality of the workload can either be excessive or insufficient. If it is too much, this can exhaust the worker psychologically or physically (this is often viewed as one of the main reasons for work stress). Too little work or work that is too easy eauses boredom and frustration as it hampers the need for job satisfaction, which results in stress.
Poor management style:
inconsistencies in decision making; inappropriate planning and no pro-active management, autocratic and/or toxic leadership styles; serious lack of trust for subordinates etc.
Poor work relations:
lack of a sound relationship with an immediate supervisor, a feeling of isolation and detachment from the others at work (even more evident with remote working arrangements); harassment or bullying.
Uncertain future: uncertainty about one’s future in the organisation in terms of, for example, development; fear of the possibility of being retrenched or redundant.
Type of career: the nature of certain professions could easily lead to stress.
What are the moderators of stress?
Factors that can influence how individuals experience and respond to stress. These factors can either lessen or intensify the impact of stress
Physical and mental condition
Cognitive appraisal
Degree of hardiness
What is meant by physical and mental condition?
Being mentally preoccupied with other matters inhibits our ability to cope effectively with stressful situations
One can better cope with stress when in good health.
What is meant by cognitive appraisal?
Thoughts give rise to our emotions, which direct behaviour and often lead to a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy. The individual’s assessment (perceives) of a stressor will also determine his/her ability or inability to deal with a stressful situation.
The familiarity of the stressor:
The experience a person has with dealing more with a stressor, the less harmful the influence will be.
Measure of control over an event:
People experience less stress when they are in control of the stressor and vice-versa.
Measure of predictability of events:
Bad news all of a sudden is a huge shock whereas if it is expected, it is less of a shock.
Inevitability of threat:
Stress in the future is hoped to be avoided but as it becomes imminent (closer), stress increases.
What is meant by degree of hardiness?
