Stress - 4. Sources of Stress: 2. Workplace Stress Flashcards
What is the demand-control model and who developed it?
Demand-control model is focused on the balance of workload and control
Developed by Karasek
Those who experience high levels of demand at work with little control are more likely than other employers to feel stressed
Who carried out key research into workplace street, investigating whether work stressors increase stress-related illness? (Swedish sawmill)
Johansson et al
Sample of Johansson et Al’s research into workplace stress at the Swedish sawmill
24 male workers at the sawmill
14 participants had low/no control over workload, carrying out respective and isolated tasks (called ‘finishers)
10 participants had high control over their job, being able to choose what they do at their own pace (called ‘cleaners’)
What type of experiment was Johansson et Al’s research?
Quasi experiment as participants were naturally sawmill workers and IV couldn’t be manipulated
How was stress data collected from the participants in Johansson et Al’s research?
Everyday of the research (even days they weren’t working) physiological and self-report measures were used to gain objective data
Participants asked to produce urine sample and do a questionnaire to measure their caffeine intake, smoking habits and alcohol intake
Findings of Johansson et Al’s research
Finishers had adrenaline levels twice as high as their baseline measurement when they were at work
Finishers had higher levels of stress-related illness such as headaches and absenteeism than learners
Finishers reported feeling more rushed and irritated than control group and rated their wellbeing as being lower
Economic implications of Johansson et Al’s research into workplace stress
Absenteeism from no/low control over work
Conclusion of Johansson et Al’s research into workplace stress
A reduction of work stressors and more control fore the workers would reduce stress
Negative evaluation of Johansson’s research into workplace stress
Lacks generalisability (Swedish sawmill isn’t representative and sample was all-male)
Cause-and-effect cannot be established
Gender bias that has potentially led to beta-bias
Individual differences (E.g. personality type) weren’t controlled
Positive evaluation of Johansson et Al’s research
Face validity
Socially desirable responses cannot be given as combination of self-report and physiological measures were used
Who carried out research into the workplace stress of civil servants?
Marmot et al
Procedure of Marmot et Al’s research into workplace stress
Over 10,000 civil servants aged 35-55 examined over 3 year period
Civil servants observed and asked to complete self-report surveys
Job control measured through self-report and assessments of work environment by personal managers
5 years later all participants were reassessed
What were the civil servants of Marmot et Al’s research reassessed on 5 years after the initial research?
Signs of cardiovascular disease
Presence of coronary risk factors like smoking
Employment status
Sense of job control
Amount of social support
Results of Marmot et Al’s research
Participants that reported having low control over their job were 4x more likely to die of heart attack than those with high job control
Higher grade civil servants developed fewest cardiovascular problems
Those with low control more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders
Conclusion of Marmot et Al’s research
Amount of control over work linked to stress-related illness
High workload didn’t link to stress-related illness
