Stress comes in many forms, from quick bursts to long-lasting pressures. Some stressors are big life changes, while others are daily hassles. Understanding these different types helps us recognize and manage stress better.
Work can be a major source of stress for many people. Job strain happens when demands are high but control is low, while burnout is a state of total exhaustion from ongoing work stress. Knowing the difference can help us address work-related stress more effectively.
Types of Stressors
Chronic vs Acute
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- Acute stressors are short-lived, intense situations (giving a speech, arguments, minor car accidents)
- Chronic stressors persist over extended periods, can be constant or intermittent (poverty, unhappy marriage, discrimination, caring for chronically ill family member)
Major Life Events
- Positive events (marriage, birth of child, new job) and negative events (death of loved one, divorce, job loss) can increase stress levels
- Require adaptation and adjustment to new circumstances
- Cumulative effect: experiencing several major life events within short period leads to higher stress levels
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
- Developed by Holmes and Rahe, assigns Life Change Units (LCUs) to life events
- Higher LCUs indicate greater stress and readjustment required
- Examples:
- Death of spouse (100 LCUs)
- Divorce (73 LCUs)
- Marriage (50 LCUs)
- Retirement (45 LCUs)
- Cumulative LCU score over a year predicts likelihood of stress-related health problems
- Score of 150+: 50% chance of illness
- Score of 300+: 80% chance of illness
Work-Related Stressors
Job Strain vs Burnout
- Job strain occurs when job demands are high and job control is low
- Characteristics: excessive workload, time pressure, lack of autonomy and decision-making power
- Can lead to physical and psychological health problems
- Job burnout is state of emotional, mental, physical exhaustion caused by prolonged work stress
- Characteristics: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (detachment from job and coworkers), reduced personal accomplishment
- Common in helping professions (healthcare, social work, teaching)
- Can result in decreased job performance and increased absenteeism
Key Terms to Review (17)
Life Transitions: Life transitions refer to the significant changes and shifts that individuals experience throughout their lifespan. These transitions can involve major life events, changes in roles and responsibilities, or adaptations to new circumstances, all of which can have a profound impact on an individual's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
Social Support: Social support refers to the network of relationships and resources that individuals can rely on to cope with stress, navigate life's challenges, and promote overall well-being. It encompasses the emotional, informational, and practical assistance provided by family, friends, and communities.
Coping Strategies: Coping strategies are the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that individuals employ to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events or situations. These strategies are crucial in helping people manage the demands of everyday life, as well as more significant life challenges or traumatic experiences.
Eustress: Eustress is a positive form of stress that can be beneficial and motivating. It refers to the healthy stress response that occurs when an individual experiences a challenging or demanding situation, leading to improved performance and personal growth.
Fight-or-Flight Response: The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. It is a survival mechanism that prepares the body to either fight the threat or flee from it.
Life Change Units: Life Change Units (LCUs) are a measure of the amount of stress an individual experiences due to significant life events or changes. They provide a way to quantify the impact of stressors on an individual's well-being and overall health.
SRRS: The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) is a widely used measure that quantifies the amount of stress an individual has experienced over a given period. It is a tool that helps assess the impact of various life events on a person's overall stress levels.
Allostatic Load: Allostatic load refers to the cumulative physiological strain on the body resulting from chronic exposure to stressful life events and the body's repeated attempts to adapt and restore homeostasis. It is a key concept in understanding the long-term impact of stress on physical and mental health.
Acute Stressors: Acute stressors are intense, short-term stress triggers that demand an immediate response from the body's physiological systems. These stressors are often unexpected and require a rapid mobilization of resources to address the perceived threat or challenge.
Social Readjustment Rating Scale: The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) is a tool used to measure the amount of stress an individual has experienced over a given period of time. It assigns numerical values to various life events, both positive and negative, that require an individual to adapt or adjust their behavior and lifestyle.
Resilience: Resilience refers to the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. It is a crucial psychological construct that enables individuals to cope effectively with challenging life events and maintain a positive outlook despite facing difficulties.
Chronic Stressors: Chronic stressors are ongoing, persistent sources of stress that individuals experience over an extended period. These types of stressors can have significant long-term impacts on physical and mental health, as they continuously challenge the body's ability to adapt and maintain homeostasis.
Burnout: Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to stressful situations or excessive demands. It is characterized by feelings of overwhelming fatigue, decreased productivity, and a sense of detachment or cynicism towards one's work or personal life.
Depersonalization: Depersonalization is a dissociative state in which an individual experiences a sense of detachment or disconnection from their own thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, often feeling like they are observing themselves from outside their body. This dissociative experience can be a response to stress, trauma, or other psychological factors.
Stress Appraisal: Stress appraisal refers to the cognitive process of evaluating a situation or event as potentially stressful, and the subsequent assessment of one's resources and ability to cope with the perceived stressor. It is a critical component in the stress response and determines how an individual will react to and manage stressful circumstances.
Daily Hassles: Daily hassles refer to the minor stressful events and irritations that occur on a regular basis in an individual's everyday life. These are the small, frequent challenges that can accumulate and contribute to overall stress levels over time.
Job Strain: Job strain refers to the combination of high job demands and low job control, which can lead to increased stress and negative health outcomes for employees. It is a key concept in the study of occupational stress and its impact on individual well-being and organizational performance.