[Workplace] Sources Of Stress & Measuring Stress

Question 1

What factors contribute to stress in the workplace?

Answer 1

-Degree of workload.
-Degree of control.

Question 2

What did Karasek (1979) state about stress in the workplace?

Answer 2

Those who experience a high workload with low control are more likely to feel stressed at work.

Question 3

How did Johannson (1978) study stress in the workplace?

Answer 3

Johannson (1978) looked at 24 Swedish sawmill workers (14 finishers, 10 cleaners).
-Finishers:
–low control (determined by machine).
–high workload (if the finishers fell behind schedule, the production rate slowed).
-Cleaners:
–high control (working at their own pace).
–low workload (less responsibility).

Self report (questionnaires) and physiological (4 urine samples throughout the day) measures of stress were used.

Question 4

What were the results of Johannson (1978)?

Answer 4

-Finishers had higher levels of stress hormones (even before starting work) than the cleaners.
-Stress levels increased during the day for finishers, while they decreased throughout the day for cleaners.
-Illness and absenteeism rates were higher amongst the finishers.
-Self-report measures correlated with physiological measures.

Question 5

What was the conclusion of Johannson (1978)?

Answer 5

High workload and low control are linked with stress related illness.

Question 6

Evaluation points of Johannson (1978):

Answer 6

-Beta bias (all male sample).
-Lack of generalisability (sawmill workers, males, 24 participants).
-No cause-and-effect (correlation).
-High ecological validity.
-We don’t know which one of the two factors was the most stressful.

Question 7

How did Marmot (1997) study stress in the workplace?

Answer 7

Over 10,000 civil servants aged 35-55 were examined over a period of 3 years. Participants were given a self-report questionnaire, and were examined for signs of coronary heart disease (CHD). There was a follow up after 5 years.

Question 8

What were the results of Marmot (1997)?

Answer 8

High grade civil servants (high workload, high control) developed fewer cardiovascular problems than low grade civil servants (high workload, low control).

Question 9

What was the conclusion of Marmot (1997)?

Answer 9

High workload is not associated with stress & CHD, but low job control is.

Question 10

Evaluation points of Marmot (1997):

Answer 10

-Large sample size.
-The questions may give cues for the aim of the research, creating demand characteristics.
-No cause and effect (correlation).