Thanks to the authors

1. CHAPTER 7 SUMMARY
Stress is an adaptive response to a situation that is perceived as challenging or threatening
to the person’s well-being. Distress represents high stress levels that have negative
consequences, whereas eustress represents the moderately low stress levels needed to
activate people. The stress experience, called the general adaptation syndrome, involves
moving through three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. The stress model shows
that stress is caused by stressors. However, the effect of these stressors depends on
individual characteristics. Stress affects a person’s physiological and psychological well-
being, and is associated with several work-related behaviors.
Stressors are the causes of stress and include any environmental conditions that place
a physical or emotional demand on the person. Stressors are found in the physical work
environment, the employee’s various life roles, interpersonal relations, and organizational
activities and conditions. Conflicts between work and nonwork obligations represent a
frequent source of employee stress.
Two people exposed to the same stressor may experience different stress levels
because they perceive the situation differently, they have different threshold stress levels,
or they use different coping strategies. Workaholics and employees with Type A behavior
patterns tend to experience more stress than do other employees.
High levels or prolonged stress can cause physiological symptoms, such as high
blood pressure, ulcers, sexual dysfunction, headaches, and coronary heart disease.
Behavioral symptoms of stress include lower job performance, poorer decisions, more
workplace accidents, higher absenteeism, and more workplace aggression.
Psychologically, stress reduces job satisfaction and increases moodiness, depression, and

2. job burnout. Job burnout refers to the process of emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and
reduced efficacy resulting from prolonged exposure to stress. It is mainly due to
interpersonal and role-related stressors and is most common in helping occupations.
Many interventions are available to manage work-related stress. Some directly
remove unnecessary stressors or remove employees from the stressful environment.
Others help employees alter their interpretation of the environment so that it is not
viewed as a serious stressor. Wellness programs encourage employees to build better
physical defenses against stress experiences. Social support provides emotional,
informational, and material resource support to buffer the stress experience.