54 pages
This chapter examines stress in organizational settings, exploring its definition, sources, consequences, and management strategies. It covers the organizational stress model, individual differences that moderate stress responses, and both organizational and individual approaches to stress prevention and management.
Stress is an adaptive response to situations that place special demands on individuals, moderated by individual differences
Stressors originate from individual, group, organizational, and non-work sources
The organizational stress model includes stressors, cognitive appraisal, coping strategies, moderators, and outcomes
Stress produces psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and physiological consequences affecting both individuals and organizations
Key moderators of stress include personality (including Type A/B patterns and hardiness), social support, age, gender, and heredity
Burnout is a serious consequence of chronic work stress characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased accomplishment
Stress costs organizations approximately $250 billion annually through various negative outcomes
Prevention focuses on eliminating stressors while management helps people cope with existing stress
Effective organizational approaches include EAPs, wellness programs, work redesign, and maximizing person-environment fit
Individual coping strategies include problem-focused and emotion-focused approaches, with various techniques like relaxation, meditation, and cognitive restructuring
The underload-overload continuum shows optimal performance occurs at moderate stress levels
Social support is an effective stress moderator providing predictability, purpose, and hope in stressful situations