Recent Research on Stress at Work

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Recent Research on Stress at Work

• Andy Smith

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Early issues

• Heavy industry the physical working environment
• e.g. Noise
• Working hours
• e.g. shift-work long working hours

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Psychosocial stressors

• Karasek model
• Job demands
• Control (and later social support)

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A sceptics view of stress at work

• Theres no such thing as stress
• Stress is the buzz word of the day
• If we highlight it people will catch it
• Stress is a good thing
• Its just an excuse not to come to work

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A letter to the Times

• Stress is a normal component of responsibility.
• If someone complains of unbearable stress at work
  the remedy is to demote him or her immediately by
  at least two levels with a corresponding
  reduction in pay, since the complaint clearly
  demonstrates that the complainant has been
  promoted to his/her level of incompetence.

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Research supported by HSE
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The Bristol Stress and Health at Work Study

• Provide information on the scale of perceived
  stress at work
• Identify risk factors
• Identify possible health outcomes
• Is stress at work due to stress outside of work?
• Based on a sample of gt 4,000 workers

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How much stress?

• Described their job as very or extremely
  stressful
• Males Females
• FULL-TIME 18.6 23.9
• PART-TIME 6.8 9.2
• 5 Million highly stressed in UK

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Work characteristics associated with stress
included

• Having to work fast
• Having to combine different things
• Taking the initiative
• Responsibility
• Lack of support
• Overtime long working hours
• Noise
• Being treated unfairly

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Stress and chronic health problems
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Stress and health problems in last 12 months

• High stress associated with more-
• Arthritis/rheumatism
• Sciatica/lumbago/backache
• Hay fever
• Stomach trouble/indigestion
• Being constipated / Piles
• Foot trouble
• Depression/anxiety
• Gums/mouth

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Stress and health problems in last 14 days

• High stress associated with greater reporting of
• Cough Catarrh Phlegm Diarrhoea Heartburn
  Wind Indigestion Shortness of Breath
  Dizziness Earache Swollen Ankles Nervy Tense
  or Depressed Sore Throat Difficulty Sleeping
  Pains in the Chest Backache Nausea Feeling
  Tired for No Apparent Reason Rashes Itches
  Skin Trouble Headache Trouble With Gums,
  Wheeziness.

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A definition of stress

• Stress is apparent when demands exceed the
  ability to cope.
• Stress is the reaction people have to excessive
  pressures or other types of demands placed on
  them.

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Combined effects of risk factors

• The Combined Effects Approach
• Factors usually studied in isolation
• Not representative of real-life situation

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Combined effects of demographic and general
occupational risk factors

• Divorced/separated/widowed
• 40-50 years old
• Full-time
• Educated to degree level
• Socio-economic Group II

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Number of risk factors and reports of stress
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Job characteristics combined risk factors and
stress
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Ethnicity, discrimination and stress
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Discrimination
Those reporting racial discrimination at work
have the highest stress levels. Looking at the
combination of ethnicity, discrimination and
gender Female, discriminated against,
African-Caribbeans report the highest stress
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Last 2 or 3 years next series of talks

• Combined effects culture?
• Stress in particular sectors
• Health-related behaviours and stress
• Stress in those starting work
• Stress and job retention
• Stress and return to work the role of therapy