Understanding Stress and Strains

A psychological response to demands that exceed a person's capacity or resources.

Demands that cause stress.

Negative consequences that arise when demands exceed a person's capacity or resources.

Stressors that hinder progress toward personal goals.

Examples of hindrance stressors include role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, and daily hassles.

Stressors perceived as opportunities for learning, growth, and achievement.

Examples of challenge stressors include time pressure, work complexity, and work responsibility.

Stressors outside of work that affect work performance.

Stressors from outside work that offer opportunities for growth, like family time demands.

Actions and thoughts used to manage stressful demands and associated emotions.

Physical activities to manage stress, like working faster or avoiding work.

Thoughts used to manage stress, like strategizing or reappraising hassles.

A personality pattern characterized by time urgency, competitiveness, and hostility.

Type A individuals experience more stressors due to their demanding nature and tendency to encounter conflicts.

Type A individuals are more likely to perceive situations as stressful.

Type A behavior is linked to higher risks of coronary heart disease and other health problems.

Work performance affected by illness or stress despite physical presence at the workplace.

A systematic process to identify and evaluate stress levels within an organization.

Practices that decrease the negative impact of stressors on employees. They help employees manage stress and its effects by focusing on coping techniques and stress management practices.

Activities like progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, deep breathing exercises, walking, writing in a journal, and other calming activities. These techniques help counteract the effects of stressors by promoting relaxation and reducing physiological arousal.

Cognitive-behavioral methods that promote rational thought and coping strategies for dealing with stressors. These techniques include self-talk (reframing negative thoughts) and effective coping skills like prioritizing demands, time management, communication, and seeking support.

Initiatives designed to improve employee health and well-being, often focused on stress management. These programs may include smoking cessation, stress management training, weight control support, health education, and physical fitness programs.

Practices that aim to lessen the frequency or intensity of stressors in the workplace, making the work environment less stressful. Examples include job sharing, sabbaticals, changing work schedules, and flexible work arrangements.

Providing resources and support to employees to help them manage stress and improve their coping skills. These practices include training, supportive practices (flextime, telecommuting, accommodations), and counseling or mental health support.

A work arrangement allowing employees to adjust their work hours while maintaining the required total working time. It offers flexibility in scheduling work hours to accommodate personal needs and responsibilities.

A work arrangement that enables employees to perform their work duties from a remote location, typically their home. It offers geographic flexibility and can reduce commuting time and stress.