Introductory psychologyLesson 1 of 2 in the course Stress and Well Being

Work Stress: Job Roles, Control, and Personal Influences

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces a general way to understand stress at work and explains how the occupation itself can shape an employee’s stress. Recognizing common sources helps employees and managers identify where stress originates.

Work stress can arise from organizational sources, such as job demands and role expectations, and individual sources, including personal characteristics and life circumstances. The effects of these sources may be moderated by factors such as social support and hardiness. Stress can influence both psychological and physical well-being, as well as work attitudes and performance.

All flashcards

What is role ambiguity?
Insufficient information about work expectations, how to meet them, or the consequences of work behavior.
What is role conflict?
Incompatible expectations that make it difficult to satisfy one demand while meeting another.
What is role underutilization?
A work situation in which employees have little opportunity to use their skills and abilities.
What does personal control mean at work?
The extent to which an employee can influence conditions that affect effective job performance.
What is polyphasic behavior?
Having many activities or demands underway at once, a characteristic associated with Type A behavior.

Quiz questions

  1. An employee lacks information about performance expectations and evaluation standards. Which role condition is present?Answer: Role ambiguity
  2. What does quantitative role overload describe?Answer: More work than can be completed in the available time.
  3. Which outcome is associated with employee participation in job-related matters?Answer: Lower psychological strain and role ambiguity.
  4. What does the term karoshi refer to?Answer: Death associated with overwork.
  5. What relationship did Holmes and Rahe report between accumulated life-event points and illness?Answer: Higher totals were associated with a greater likelihood of illness.

Based on Organizational Behavior by J. Stewart Black, David S. Bright, Donald G. Gardner, Eva Hartmann, Jason Lambert, Laura M. Leduc, Joy Leopold, James S. O’Rourke, Jon L. Pierce, Richard M. Steers, Siri Terjesen, Joseph Weiss (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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