According to The American Institute of Stress (AIS), workplace stress has become the rule and no longer the exception. Approximately 83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress that causes about one million employees to miss work each day.1, 2 A survey of pharmacists from 2004, also reported that more than 68% of pharmacists experience job stress and role overload.3 More recently, a Pharmacy Times Job Satisfaction Survey, demonstrated that 49% of pharmacists are not satisfied with their job.4 These stats are alarming on a number of levels, but especially given the fact that approximately 75% of job success is predicted by optimism levels, social support, and the ability to see stress as a challenge not as a threat.5 So it does not come as a surprise that US businesses lose up to $300 billion yearly due to workplace stress.2 This is an escalating issue in our country and it simply cannot be ignored.
It is important to understand, that several external factors may be outside of your control when it comes to feelings of stress and dissatisfaction with work. However, there are practices that you can implement to help you feel less stress and use stress to your advantage!
Yerkes-Dodson law proposes two different types of stress, eustress and distress. It demonstrates that when stress levels become too high (distress), performance decreases and results in feeling overwhelmed.6 On the other hand, eustress is a positive reaction to stress. Eustress is using stress to your advantage by creating motivation to approach difficult tasks and enhances your focus.6 Although the physical manifestations of stress are the same for eustress and distress (racing heart, sweaty palms), it all boils down to your mindset and how you are interpreting the stress that you feel.
Figure A: Yerkes-Dodson law15
In his publication in the Harvard Business Review, Shawn Achor describes his study about rethinking stress.7 The study enrolled 380 managers at UBS and they were divided into two groups. The first group was shown a 3-minute video describing the debilitating effects of stress and how it negatively impacts work productivity, reproduction, growth, and immunity.5, 7, 8, 9 The second group was shown a video that focused on how stress is enhancing and how it can improve performance on cognitive tasks, boost immunity, positively impact relationships, and create a sense of meaning.5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 One week later, the managers stress levels were assessed. The results of the study were statistically significant. The group who watched the stress is enhancing video, demonstrated a 23% reduction in physical distress symptoms (headaches, backaches, fatigue) and a 30% increase in productivity.5, 7 Therefore, these findings suggest that by altering your perceptions of stress to a more positive outlook, you can make stress work for you instead of against you.
Additionally, Dr. Ben-Shahar in his book, “Happier,” further describes the importance of striving to find happiness and satisfaction within your work. He states that, “we cannot simply hope that the right job or right employer will be handed to us. We have to actively seek and create meaning and pleasure in the workplace.”14 This statement revisits the two foundational building blocks of happiness. Future benefit (meaning) and present benefit (pleasure). He goes on to discuss research conducted by Richard Hackman, which describes how people can experience more meaning at work. “First, the work should draw out a variety of talents and skills; second, the employee should complete a whole task, from beginning to end rather than play a minor role in the big picture; finally, the employee should feel that her work has a significant impact on others.”14 You may notice that this statement is consistent with the PERMAH model which was discussed in the previous post. Can you identify different strategies to accomplish these conditions which Hackman has described? Keep a look out for the next post tomorrow that will focus on strategies to handle stress and improve work satisfaction.
The upcoming posts this week (as well as additional posts which will be posted throughout Mental Health Awareness Month (May) by Maggie Kronz, Daniel Pons, and Cavan O’Kane) were created by ASHP New Practitioner’s Forum CDAG to provide you with helpful resources to improve your mental health and well-being. Upcoming topics include: Positive psychology and how this can be applied to your personal and professional life to increase your levels of happiness and well-being, managing anxiety and depression, identifying your personal values and how to incorporate these values into your career to avoid burnout, imposter syndrome and how it may be affecting your mental wellness, how to handle a negative work environment, and how to be a wellness leader at your workplace. We hope you find these posts beneficial and give you a good starting point to help you be well!
If you missed earlier posts, check them out here:
References:
- Workplace stress. The American institute of stress. Accessed from: https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress
- Milenkovic M. 42 worrying workplace stress statistics. The American institute of stress. 2019. Accessed from: https://www.stress.org/42-worrying-workplace-stress-statistics
- Mott DA, et al.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2004;44(3):326-336.
- Mollison, C. Pharmacists are happy with their salaries, less so with their jobs, survey shows (part 1). Pharmacy Times. 2019. Accessed from: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/pharmacists-are-happy-with-their-salaries-less-so-with-their-jobs-survey-shows-part-1
- Achor S. Before happiness. New York: Crowne Business; 2013.
- Tocino-Smith, J. What is eustress and how is it different than stress. PositivePsychology.com. 2019. Accessed from: https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-eustress/
- Achor S. Make stress work for you. HBR. 2011 Feb 15.
- Eisinger J. High anxiety. Association management; 2001.
- Chrousos G. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2009 Jul 5: 374-81
- Cahill L., et al. Learn Mem. 2003 Jul-Aug;10(4):270-4.
- Epel E. S., et al. Journal of social issues. 1998;54(2): 301-22
- Park C. L., et al. Journal of personality. 1996;64(1): 71-105
- Tedeschi R. G., et al. Psychological inquiry. 2004;15(1): 1-18
- Ben-Shahar T. Happier. McGraw-Hill; 2007.
- Yerkes-Dodson law. Accessed from: http://bradyonthebrain.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/stress-curve.jpg