Because learning changes everything.

Chapter 5

Stress

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 An Integrative Model of Organizational
Behavior

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 Class Agenda 1

Stress Defined
Types of Stressors.
How Do People Cope with Stressors?
The Experience of Strain.
How Important Is Stress?
Best Practices

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 Why Are Some Students
More Stressed than Others?

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 Stress
A psychological response to demands that possess certain
stakes for the person and that tax or exceed the person’s
capacity or resources.
• Do you want a stress-free job?
• Which jobs are more and less stressful?

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 Table 5-1 Jobs Rated from Least Stressful
(1) to Most Stressful (200)
LEAST STRESSFUL JOBS STRESS MOST STRESSFUL JOBS STRESS LEVEL
LEVEL

1. Tenured University Professor 5.03 143. Elementary School Teacher 27.37

2. Audiologist 6.33 148. Management Consultant 28.24

3. Medical Records Technician 7.48 150. Air Traffic Controller 28.58

4. Jeweler 8.10 154. Surgeon 28.90

8. Librarian 10.61 163. Construction Supervisor 30.92

14. Software Engineer 12.13 166. Lumberjack 32.00

18. Computer Service 12.64 172. Attorney 36.40

Note: The stress level score is
Technician calculated by summing points in 10
24. Occupational Therapist 13.14 175. Sales Representative 36.95 categories: deadlines, working in the
29. Chiropractor 13.55 179. Real Estate Agent 38.57
public eye, competitiveness, physical
demands, environmental conditions,
30. Actuary 14.09 180. Social Media Manager 38.60
hazards, own life at risk, another’s life
35. Multimedia Artist 14.40 183. Stockbroker 39.97
at risk, public encounters, and
39. Hair Stylist 14.59 185. Advertising Account 43.24 employment change.
Executive

40. Meteorologist 14.65 189. Taxi Driver 46.18 Source: Adapted from L. Krantz and T.
42. Loan Officer 14.73 191. Senior Corporate Executive 47.55 Lee, The Jobs Rated Almanac (Lake
47. Biologist 15.10 194. Event Coordinator 49.73 Geneva, WI: focus Books, 2015).
50. Optician 15.57 195. Police Officer 50.81

53. Veterinarian 15.83 196. Airline Pilot 59.12

63. Chemist 17.00 198. Newspaper Reporter 69.67

74. Sustainability Manager 18.50 199. Firefighter 71.64

84. Accountant 19.85 200. Enlisted Military Personnel 74.83

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 Figure 5-1 Transactional Theory of Stress

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 Work Stressors 1

Hindrance stressors.
• Role conflict.
• Role ambiguity.
• Role overload.
• Daily hassles.

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 Work Stressors 2

Challenge stressors.
• Time pressure.
• Work complexity.
• Work responsibility.

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 Family Stressors 2

Hindrance stressors.
• Work–family conflict.
• Financial uncertainty.
• Negative life events.

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 Table 5-2 Stressful Life Events
LIFE EVENT STRESS SCORE LIFE EVENT STRESS SCORE
Death of a partner 100 Trouble with in-laws 29
Divorce 73 Outstanding achievement 28
Separation from a partner 65 Begin or end school 26
Jail term 63 Change in living conditions 25
Death of close family member 63 Trouble with boss 23
Personal illness 53 Change in work hours 20
Marriage 50 Change in residence 20
Fired at work 47 Change in schools 20
Marital reconciliation 45 Change in social activities 18
Retirement 45 Change in sleeping habits 16
Pregnancy 40 Change in family get-togethers 15
Gain of new family member 39 Change in eating habits 15
Death of a close friend 37 Vacations 13
Change in occupation 36 The holiday season 12
Child leaving home 29 Minor violations of the law 11

Source: Adapted from T.H. Holmes and R.H. Rahe, “The Social Re-Adjustment Rating Scale,” Journal of Psychosomatic
Research 11 (1967), pp. 213–18.

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 Family Stressors 1

Challenge stressors.
• Time demands from family.
• Personal development.
• Positive life events.

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 Challenge Stressors

How much stress do you feel because of the following aspects of your
coursework?
1. The pressures I have to finish assignments on time.
2. The sheer amount of stuff I have to do.
3. The complexity of the material on exams and assignments.
4. The time I have to devote to getting everything done.
5. The number of “balls in the air” as I balance all my responsibilities.

Average score: 16

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 Hindrance Stressors

How much stress do you feel because of the following aspects of your
coursework?
1. The sense that I’m not making progress in mastering the material.
2. The hassles I have to go through when doing class assignments.
3. A sense of uncertainty about what’s expected of me by professors.
4. A belief that my professors play favorites when grading exams and
assignments.
5. The amount of “busy work” I have that winds up wasting my time.

Average score: 12

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 How Do People Cope with Stressors?
Coping refers to the behaviors and thoughts people use to
manage stressful demands and the emotions associated with
those demands.

Method of coping.
• Behavioral versus cognitive.

Focus of coping.
• Problem solving versus regulation of emotions.

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 Table 5-3 Examples of Coping Strategies

Methods Problem-Focused Emotion-Focused

Behavioral Methods • Working harder. • Engaging in
• Seeking assistance. alternative activities.
• Acquiring additional • Seeking support.
resources. • Venting anger.
Cognitive Methods • Strategizing. • Avoiding, distancing,
• Self-motivating. and ignoring.
• Changing priorities. • Looking for the
positive in the
negative.
• Reappraising.

Source: Adapted from J.C. Latack and S.J. Havlovic, “Coping with Job Stress: A Conceptual Evaluation Framework for
Coping Measures,” Journal of Organizational Behavior 13 (1992), pp. 479–508.

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 Figure 5-2 Examples of Strain

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 Accounting for Individuals in the Stress
Process
Individual factors in coping with stress include:
• Social support.
• Instrumental support.
• Emotional support.
• Recovery.
• Type A Behavior Pattern.

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 Type A Behavior Pattern

Average score: 60

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Source: Adapted from R.H. Friedman and R. H. Rosenman, “Association of Specific Overt Behavior Pattern with Blood and Cardiovascular Findings,” Journal of the American Medical Association 169 19
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 Figure 5-3 Why Are Some Employees More
“Stressed” Than Others?

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 How Important Is Stress?
• Stressors and the stress process influence strains and,
ultimately, people’s health and well-being.
• Stressors also have an impact on job performance and
organizational commitment.

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 Figure 5-4 Effects of Hindrance Stressors
on Performance and Commitment

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 Figure 5-5 Effects of Challenge Stressors
on Performance and Commitment

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 Application: Stress Management 1

Stress audit assesses the level and sources of stress.

Reducing stressors.
• Managing hindrance stressors.
• Improving work–life balance through job sharing,
sabbaticals, etc.
• Improving hardiness

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 Application: Stress Management 2

Providing resources.
• Training interventions.
• Supportive practices such as flextime, onsite childcare, etc.
Reducing strains.
• Relaxation techniques.
• Cognitive-behavioral techniques.
• Health and wellness programs.
• Employee assistance programs.

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 Table 5-4 Supportive Practices Used by
Organizations
% OF SMALL % OF MEDIUM % OF LARGE
PRACTICE
ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS
Flextime 57 56 56
Part-time
36 33 43
telecommuting
Compressed workweek 27 30 41
Bring child to work if
43 25 18
needed
Full-time
14 18 24
telecommuting
Lactation program 8 20 28
Onsite childcare 1 3 13
Company-supported
0 1 11
childcare center

© McGraw Hill, LLC Source: Adapted from M.E. Burke, 2005 Benefits Survey Report (Alexandria, VA: Society of Human Resource Management Research Department, 2005). 26
 Next Time
Chapter 6: Motivation

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 Because learning changes everything. ®

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