Stress in the Work Place: ERIC Digest.

Although employment can be an exciting challenge, it can also induce stress. This digest examines some of the characteristics of job-related stress. Three concepts characterize the association of work, mental health, and physical health. (1) Stress is an interaction between individuals and any source of environmental demand. (2) A stressor is an object or event that the individual perceives to be disruptive. (3) Appraisals of stress are determined by the values, goals, coping strategies and other factors employees bring to the situation. A balanced understanding of work stress recognizes that employment provides rewards that are both internal and external. Some factors, such as lack of control over work, the work place, and employment status, have been identified both as sources of stress and as critical health risks. Strategies for reducing work-related stress include making working conditions less stressful, helping individuals adapt by teaching them better coping strategies, and identifying the stressful relationship between the individual or group and the work setting. Employers should recognize that sources of stress may vary from worker to worker, and that providing a solution for one worker may create stress for another worker. (RJM)