Stress and well-being

Question 1

Stress definition

Answer 1

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

Question 2

List causes for stress

Answer 2

financial worries, work, family responsibilities and health concern

Question 3

challenge stressor

Answer 3

associated with workload, pressure to complete task and time urgency (can be positive)
only good in supportive organizations

Question 4

hinderance stressor

Answer 4

keep you from reaching your goal (negative)

Question 5

Structural approach to stress

Answer 5

-features that lead to negative emotional state
psychological aspects : demand, control and support
tangible view

Question 6

Transactional approach to stress

Answer 6

• individuals reaction, response and transaction with the work environment
• workers perception of the success of their attempts to respond to demands
• see demand and look at resources
• psychological mechanism

Question 7

Resource based approach to stress

Answer 7

• identify, protect and develop resources, instrumental in determining the amount of stress is experienced
• Resources : personal characteristics and environmental conditions
• conditions, personal resources, energies

Question 8

JD-R model and well-being : demands

Answer 8

demands : mental, emotional, physical
trigger process of burnout especially the once obstruct effective performance or prevent to learn something
( hinderence demands)
challenging demands provide opportunities to succeed, learn and grow

Question 9

JD-R model and well-being : resources

Answer 9

support, outcome, feedback
can activate motivational processes -> help achieve work goals and have positive impact on employee attitudes and competencies
can lead to high level of job engagement

Question 10

Well-being and work engagement : Vigour

Answer 10

high energy and mental strength to exert high degree of effort and even to do these things in face of difficulties

Question 11

Well-being and work engagement : Dedication

Answer 11

believing your effort ‘ means something’; feeling inspired, enthusiastic, and welcome new challenges

Question 12

Well-being and work engagement : Absorption

Answer 12

being into the work ( having a flow); attachment to task at the exclusion of more mundane concurrent events

Question 13

Burnout

Answer 13

state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress
- emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, low personal accomplishment

Question 14

Work life balance/ work life conflict

Answer 14

balance : integrating personal and work life

conflict : negative impact; lower performance, mental/physical health issues and lower life quality

Question 15

What affects stress and well-being at work

Answer 15

environmental-, organizational-, personal factors and cultural differences

Question 16

Environmental factors

Answer 16

• environmental uncertainty influences stress level
• political uncertainties
• new innovations

Question 17

Organizational factors : task demands

Answer 17

• persons job : job design ( autonomy, task variety)

working conditions; physical work layout

Question 18

Organizational factors : role demands

Answer 18

• function of you in an organization
• create expectations that are hard to meet
• expected to do more in same time ( role overload)
• role ambiguity unclear expectations

Question 19

Organizational factors : interpersonal demands

Answer 19

-created by other employees
-lack of support; poor relations
negative coworker and supervisor behavior

Question 20

Personal factors

Answer 20

family issues, inherent personality characteristics etc

Individual differences : perception, job experience, social support, personality

Question 21

Cultural differences

Answer 21

• job conditions which cause stress are different

- however, stress is equally bad

Question 22

physiological symptoms

Answer 22

job stress -> poor health

changes in metabolism, breathing rates, bloodpressure, headaches, heartattacks

Question 23

psychological symptoms

Answer 23

• job dissatisfaction
• lack of clarity : increase stress
• the less control people have over the pace of their work, the greater the stress and dissatisfaction

Question 24

behavioral symptoms

Answer 24

reduction of productivity 
absence and turnover 
changes in eating habits 
increased smoking or alcohol consumption 
rapid speech 
fidgeting 
sleep disorders

Question 25

Managing stress at work

Answer 25

• functional moderate levels of stress lead to higher performance ( managers support this )
• perception is important ( managers could see stress in a different level )

Question 26

Individual approaches

Answer 26

Time management
physical exercise
relaxation techniques
expanded social support network

Question 27

Organizational approaches

Answer 27

selection and placement 
goal setting 
employee involvement 
organizational communication 
employee sabbatical ( escape ) 
corporate wellness programs