Occupational Stress

3.1 Concept and Prevalence

Occupational stress (also called work stress or job stress) is defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when job requirements do not match the worker's capabilities, resources, or needs. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, USA) defines it as "the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker."

In India, occupational stress is significant for:

• Government servants - dealing with public accountability, political pressures, large workloads, and limited resources
• Healthcare workers - high-stakes decisions, emotional labour
• Teachers and academics - workload, student expectations, administrative burden
• Police personnel - exposure to violence, irregular shifts, public hostility

3.2 Models of Occupational Stress

1. Demand-Control Model (Karasek, 1979):

• High job demands + Low decision-making control = highest stress (e.g., a factory worker with a fast-paced line and no say in operations)
• High demands + High control = active job (challenging but manageable - e.g., a senior doctor)
• Low demands + Low control = passive job (under-stimulation, leads to skill erosion)

2. Effort-Reward Imbalance Model (Siegrist, 1996):

• Stress occurs when high effort (time pressure, responsibilities, demands) is not matched by rewards (salary, esteem, promotion, job security)
• Common in underpaid/undervalued professions (e.g., frontline government workers)

3. Person-Environment Fit Model:

• Stress arises from mismatch between the person's needs/abilities and the environment's supplies/demands
• Poor fit = strain; good fit = satisfaction and growth

3.3 Major Occupational Stressors

• Role Conflict: Incompatible demands from different role senders (e.g., boss vs. clients).
• Role Ambiguity: Unclear job responsibilities, expectations, or evaluation criteria.
• Work Overload: Too much work (quantitative) or work that is too difficult (qualitative).
• Lack of Control: No autonomy over work pace, methods, or decisions.
• Interpersonal Conflict: Difficult supervisors, colleagues, or public interactions.
• Poor Environment: Noise, poor lighting, inadequate resources, and unsafe conditions.

3.4 Consequences of Occupational Stress

Level	Effects
Psychological	Anxiety, depression, irritability, reduced job satisfaction, decreased motivation
Physical	Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, immune suppression, headaches, musculoskeletal disorders
Behavioral	Absenteeism, reduced productivity, errors, substance abuse, aggression, turnover
Organizational	Increased healthcare costs, low morale, poor quality of service delivery