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Stress Management 2
Stress Management 2
Christian A. Gallardo, MD
Why do we work? • Work provides:
– Income
– Fulfills a variety of
other needs
• Mental and
physical exercise
• Social contact
• Feeling of self
worth and
competence
What is Work Stress?
Work Stress:
• “…the harmful physical and
emotional responses that occur
when the requirements of a job
do not match the capabilities,
resources, or needs of the
worker.”
– Outcome: poor health and
injury - NIOSH Publication No. 99 -101
Work Stress:
• “Stress is a reaction
people have to
pressure placed upon
them and occurs when
pressures exceed the
individual’s ability to
cope.”
- Health and Safety Executive
Work Stress
• A normal part of life
• Has good and bad
implications
• Biological response to
our environment
• Flight or fight response
• Physical and mental
reactions
Factors Influencing Work Stress
• The drive for success
• Changing work patterns
• Working conditions
• Relationships at work
• Job Demands:
workload and work
paces
Factors Influencing Work Stress
• Poor Job Content:
boredom, lack of
meaning
• Levels of job control,
decision latitude
• Organizational policies
and procedures
Causes of Work Stress
• Individual and
Situational
Characteristics/
Worker
Characteristics
– Personality
– Coping Style
– What is stressful
for one may not be
for another
Causes of Job Stress
• Work Characteristics/Working
Conditions/Organizational factor
– Exposure to stressful work conditions (job
stressor) can adversely and directly affect
health and safety
– Examples of job stress
• Example workload
• Environmental hazards
• Pressure for increased productivity
Causes of Job Stress
• Environmental Factors
– Economic Uncertainty
– Political Uncertainty
– Technological Uncertainty
Work Stressors
• 1. Task Design
– Heavy workload,
infrequent breaks,
little or job control,
long hours of work
or shift work
Work Stressors
• 2. Management Style
– Lack of worker participation in decision
making, poor communication, lack of family
friendly policies
Work Stressors
• 3. Interpersonal Relationship
– Poor Social Environment, lack of support
from co-workers or supervisors
Work Stressors
• Short Live or infrequent stressful situations
pose little risk, if any at all
• Continuous stress episodes may be
damaging
– Body is constantly on guard and activated
– Wear and tear to biological systems is faster
– Fatigue or damage results
– Repair and defense systems are
compromised
Early Warning Signs of Work Stress
• Headache
• Sleep Disturbances
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Short Temper
• Upset Stomach
• Job Dissatisfaction
• Low Morals
Manifestation of Work Stress
Work Stress Prevention
Why Prevent Work Stress?
• In the USA more than half of the 550 million
work days lost each year are stress-related.
-The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
A–B–C
Strategy
ABC Strategy
A = Awareness
What causes your stress?
How do you react?
ABC Strategy
B = Balance
There is a fine line between positive/ negative
stress.
How much can you cope with before it
becomes negative?
ABC Strategy
C = Control
What can you do to help yourself combat the
negative effects of stress?
Stress management Techniques