Stress – what is it?

The “stress” curve.
^{© University of Bergen}

Stress can be both negative and positive

Changes in the work situation can often lead to stress among the workers involved. The term “stress” is then often used in a negative context. If employees experience adverse psychosocial factors at their workplace, they may ultimately experience various health ailments. These can be relatively innocuous ailments such as a few days of headaches or neck pain, or they may be a contributing cause to certain chronic diseases. Examples are:

*Cardiovascular disorders (e.g. high blood pressure, heart attacks)

*Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. gastritis)

*Mental disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, sleep disorders)

*Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. pain, reduced physical function)

In some countries, cardiovascular disorders – including myocardial infarction and stroke – are considered as occupational diseases when these conditons can be related to ‘stressful’ work. Stress is here often defined as long working hours.

However, stress can also be good for you!

Look at the figure above about performance and demands. This shows that we need these factors to be balanced to achieve optimal performance. Biologically our bodies have stress responses that are triggered by stressful situations, such as something in the work environment. These stress responses are how our bodies respond to a challenge. A high stress level occurs for instance when you meet a tiger. Then you need your body to react quickly; either fight or flee! We have an autonomic nervous system that deals with such situations. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in the “fight or flee” reaction, and helps us (at least most of the times) out of awkward situations. This is a stress reaction! We also have a parasympathetic nervous system that helps us return to normal after the situation has been solved.

A tiger is not needed to start a stress reaction. Less dangerous environmental factors can trigger a stress reaction; in fact any challenge can do so! The need of learning a new login system at the computer at work can start a large negative stress reaction for some people. However, if the worker manage to meet this challenge successfully, the worker will feel good. It is a positive experience to feel that one has done a good job or that one has managed well! It gives one joy and positive self-esteem.

No stress at all would mean a boring life for us. However, too much stress can exhaust us. We need to find a balance between performance and demands; an optimal performance level. Such a balance is needed in a good psychosocial work environment.