I/O Psychology - Stressors and Strains

Stress and Strains in I/O Psychology

• Stress: Forces that push psychological or physical functions beyond normal limits.
• Strains: Unwanted outcomes resulting from stress, affecting overall well-being.

Sources of Stress

• Intrinsic Work Factors: Characteristics of the job itself that contribute to stress.
• Role Variables: Expectations and responsibilities associated with one's job role.
• Interpersonal Relationships: The impact of relationships with colleagues on stress levels.
• Career Development: Opportunities for growth or stagnation influencing stress.

Types of Strains

• Job Related: Manifested as low job satisfaction and lack of motivation.
• Emotion Related: Symptoms include depression and irritability.
• Physiological: Stress can lead to illness and significant changes in health.

Role and Its Impact

• Role: Refers to expected behaviors based on a person’s position in the workplace.
• Role Ambiguity: Occurs when role expectations are unclear, causing confusion and stress.
• Role Conflict: Arises when there are inconsistent role expectations, leading to increased stress.

Types of Stress

• Episodic Stress: Triggered by specific experiences and situational factors.
• Chronic Stress: Long-term stress stemming from lifelong experiences; can lead to severe consequences such as suicide or violence.

Burnout

• Characterized by emotional exhaustion due to overwhelming stress at work, often leading to decreased performance and disengagement.

Coping Strategies

• Problem Focused Coping: Involves taking actionable steps to resolve stress-related problems.
• Emotion Focused Coping: Utilizes cognitive strategies to manage emotional reactions to stress.

Work-Family Dynamics

• Work Family Conflict: Occurs when the demands of work and family are incompatible, highlighting the need for goal setting, boundaries, and social support.
• Work Family Enrichment: Positive behaviors and attitudes from both work and family roles enhance overall well-being.

Support Policies

• Family Leave Policies: Typically offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for maternity, family, medical, and educational reasons.
• Child Care Benefits: May include on-site care, financial assistance, informational resources, and care for sick children.
• Elder Care Assistance: Comprises counseling, informational aid, geriatric management, and financial support for elder care.

Dual Earner Couples

• Work arrangements that accommodate the needs of dual earners include flextime, part-time options, job sharing, and telecommuting.