Stress factors inside and outside the workplace and their effects on behaviour.

Abstract

Stress is a condition which causes the body to react in response to a threat or a challenge, and where the outcome is important to the individual. Stress can be both physical and psychological. Physical stress can be the result of having too much to do, and psychological stress can be the result of an emotionally disturbing or devastating event. There are several origins of these causes of stress, and this dissertation has attempted to explore the main and most common ones: the various possible factors (stressors) which can arise from the workplace and factors outside the workplace. Everyone experiences stress differently because of various reasons and reacts differently to stress in face of the same stressor. Stressors produce different stress levels in different people: combined with the external factors of stress (potential stressors) it has been found that how one is affected by that stressor depends on how one perceive this stressor, based on its relative importance to the person and the traits and characteristics of the person e.g. reactions in face of a challenge or threat. As an effect of stress, the one reacts physically, psychologically and behaviourally, and has negative consequences rather than positive consequences, which affect both physical and mental well-being and performance at work. These have serious implications for businesses, especially in this highly competitive and dynamic environment. In a research carried out in, it has been found that there is relatively low incidence of stress the airline industry in Durban but some recommendations for stress management have been made to bring knowledge about the problem and to be proactive in face of an otherwise increasing problem.