Stress

Stress is a dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with an opportunity, constraints, or demand related to what he or she desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important.

Concept of Stress:

It is considered to be a state of mind as well as body, created by certain biochemical reactions in the human body as well as psychological response in situations. It is a response to a sense of anxiety, tension, and depression.

Definitions by Moorhead and Griffin:

“Stress is a person’s adaptive response to a stimulus that places excessive psychological or physical demands on that person”.

What stress is not?

• Not simply anxiety
• not simply nervous tension, and
• it is not necessarily something damaging, bad or to be avoided

Types:

1. eustress(positive) and 
2. distress(negative)

Causes of Stress:

four categories are:

1. Extra-organizational causes
2. Organizational causes
3. Group causes
4. Individual causes

A. Extra-organizational causes:

Taking an open system perspective of an organization, it is clear that job stress is not limited just to things that happen inside the organization, during working hours. environmental causes are as follows:

• social change
• globalization
• economic and financial conditions
• the Family
• residential or community
• relocation
• conditions, etc.

Example:

1.  Life’s changes may be slow or sudden(death of a loved one). These sudden changes have a very stressful impact on people.
2. A sociological variable such as sex, gender, race, and class can also become stressors. As the workforce becomes increasingly diverse (heterogeneous) the chances for conflict also increases because of differences in beliefs, values, opportunities for rewards or promotions, etc.

B. Organizational causes:

Administrative policies and strategies	Organizational structure and design	Organizational processes	Working conditions
downsizing competitive pressures merit pay plans rotating work shifts bureaucratic rules advanced technology	centralization and formalization line-staff conflicts specialization role ambiguity and conflicts no opportunity for advancements restrictive, untrusting culture	tight controls only downwards communication little performance feedback centralized decision making lack of participation in decisions punitive appraisal systems	crowded work area noise, heat, or cold polluted air strong color unsafe, dangerous conditions poor lighting physical or mental strain toxic, chemicals or radiation

C. Group causes or stressors:

Groups have a high level of influence on individual member’s behavior and performance. These group stressors can be grouped into three types:

• Lack of group cohesiveness: Lack of cohesiveness creates conflict which serves as a potential stressor for the employees.
• Lack of social support: If we get social support, we feel good. If such kind is lacking, the same can cause the stress level high.
• Interpersonal/Interpersonal-group conflict: The incompatibility in terms of needs and values between co-workers usually creates interpersonal conflict. It includes inter-group conflict. 

D. Individual stressors or causes:

They are:

• Role conflict and ambiguity: The roles are a set of expectations that other members have of an employee. The difference in expectations makes a conflict demands on the employees s/he experiences role conflict. Both role conflict and ambiguity cause considerable stress to the employee.
• Personal traits (type A and type B):

type A Profile	type B Profile
always moving walks rapidly eats rapidly talks rapidly impatient does two or more things at once	is not concerned about time is patient doesn’t brag plays for fun, not to win relaxes without guilt has no pressing deadlines

Techniques of Managing Stress:

Individual Level	Organizational Level
Meditation Regular exercise Engage socially Don’t be overambitious Make time for fun and relaxation Avoid unnecessary stress	Goal Setting Redesigning job Job Enrichment Job Enlargement Improve Organizational Communication Wellness Programs Role Clarity Creating a better workplace environment Training and Development Activities

 

Consequences of Stress:

1. Physical consequences
2. Psychological consequences
3. Behavioral consequences

Physical consequences:

It includes increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, muscular tension, and increased gastrointestinal disorders, etc.

Psychological consequences:

It includes anger, anxiety, depression, lowered self-esteem, poor intellectual functioning, and job dissatisfaction, etc.

Behavioral consequences: 

It includes decreased performance, absenteeism, higher accidental rates, higher turnover rates, higher alcohol and other drug abuses, and difficulties in communication, etc.

Physical consequences	Behavioral consequences	Psychological consequences
Heart disease and stroke Backache and arthritis ulcers headache cancer	smoking drug and alcohol abuse accident proneness violence absence/turnover	family conflict anxiety boredom sleep disturbance  irritability

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