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Stress and the workplace. Categories for stressors . Environment ; heating, lighting, arrangement of workplace etc Home-work interface ; balancing the demands of home ( children,family etc) and work – concept of ‘work life balance’
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Categories for stressors • Environment; heating, lighting, arrangement of workplace etc • Home-work interface; balancing the demands of home (children,family etc) and work – concept of ‘work life balance’ • Control in the workplace– how much control a worker has in their job and what they do • Workload – how much or little work is placed on the individual • Interpersonal factors– how well you get on or work with other employees, boss etc
Marmot et al (1997) • Assessed how workload and job control contribute to stress levels. • Marmot suggested that in the civil service high grade employees will experience high workload whereas low grade civil servants will experience low job control.
He used a sample of 7372 civil servants who answered a questionnaire on workload/ job control/ amount of social support. • The PP’s were checked for signs of cardiovascular disease and were re-assessed after 5 years.
Findings • Workload: found no link with stress- related illness and so concluded that job demand is not a significant factor in stress • Control: PP’s in high grades developed fewer cardiovascular problems than those in lower grades. • Therefore: high grade civil servants have high job control and more social support so lower stress- related illness cases. • Low grade civil servants have low hob control and less social support so higher stress- related illness cases.
EVALUATION • G – although a large sample has been used, the study is gender bias and has only been carried out with civil servants. Also mediating factors haven’t been accounted for. E.g. Vulnerability to illness • R – repeatable, however as it is a longitudinal study it would be time consuming. • V - self-report questionnaire – could provoke demand characteristics.
Johannson et al (1978) • Examined different aspects of demand and workload • Looked at the effects of performing repetitive jobs that require continuous attention and some responsibility. • Sawyers in Swedish sawmills (high risk group) have a stressful job with repetitive tasks and a sense of responsibility; if they fall behind with production then the entire company suffers.
Findings • The high risk groups were found to have higher illness rates and higher levels of adrenaline in their urine then low risk groups. • High risk groups also had higher levels of stress hormones on work days than on rest days. • Low risk groups = maintenance workers who had less monotonous jobs.
Evaluation • G – study only includes the role of sawyers. Also all PP’s were men therefore could be seen as gender – bias. • R – Repeatable so could be seen as reliable. • V - high ecological validity - self – report which may provoke demand characteristics
Other studies to consider • Role conflict: Pomaki et al (2007): 226 hospital doctors showed role conflict directly associated with emotional exhaustion and depression. • Fox et al (1993) found a combination of low control and high demands was related to high blood pressure in nurses.
