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Stress Sources

Overview of Stress Factors

Defining the Causes

Stress can arise from various sources, which broadly fall into major life changes, daily hassles, and workplace-related factors. Every source varies in its intensity, duration, and impact on individuals depending on personal circumstances.

Life Change Categories

1

Life Changes

Significant events or transitions in a person’s life that require psychological adjustment.
2

Daily Hassles

Minor irritations or nuisances encountered day-to-day.
3

Workplace Stress

Major source of chronic stress influenced by workload and control.

The SRRS Metric

Life Change Unit (LCU) Score
Holmes and Rahe (1967) developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to quantify life changes according to their stress-producing potential.

High LCU Warning

💡

The SRRS suggests that the more life changes a person experiences within a certain time frame (usually a year), the higher their risk of stress-related illness.

Daily Hassles & Uplifts

Kanner et al. (1981) measured the frequency and severity of minor daily events.

🛑

Hassles

Minor irritations or nuisances encountered day-to-day, such as traffic jams, arguments, or losing household items.
✅

Uplifts

Positive emotional experiences that reduce the impact of hassles, serving as a buffer.

Cumulative Impact

✅
Hassles are Powerful: Studies suggest that daily hassles, although individually small, can cumulatively create significant stress and contribute to health problems, possibly more so than isolated major life events.
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Coping Resource: Nevertheless, the experience of life changes can differ depending on the person's coping resources and previous experiences.

Chronic Workplace Stress

Key Variables

Stress in the workplace is a major source of chronic stress for many adults, influenced heavily by workload and perceived control over tasks.

Workplace Stressors Defined

W

Workload

High workload involves having excessive tasks, unrealistic deadlines, or work demands exceeding one’s mental or physical capacity. Such pressure triggers the stress response.
C

Control

Control refers to the degree to which workers feel they have autonomy and influence over how and when their work is done.

Low Control Effect

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Why does low control strongly correlate with stress?
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Low control, or job strain, is strongly correlated with stress because it creates feelings of helplessness and frustration.

Job Demand-Control Model

❌
Job Strain (Worst): The worst type of workplace stress occurs when individuals have high demands but little control, known as "job strain."
✅
Active Jobs (Challenging): Conversely, high demands paired with high control—"active jobs"—may be challenging but not typically harmful.
Stress Sources Deck
Term
Categories of Stress Sources

What are the three broad categories of stress sources?

Answer
Categories

Major life changes, daily hassles, and workplace-related factors.

Term
Social Readjustment Rating Scale

What scale quantifies life changes by their stress potential?

Answer
Scale

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) by Holmes and Rahe (1967).

Term
Life Change Units

What does a high number of Life Change Units (LCUs) indicate?

Answer
Indication

A higher risk of stress-related illness.

Term
Examples of Stressful Life Changes

Give two examples of highly stressful life changes.

Answer
Examples

Death of a spouse and divorce.

Term
Daily Hassles

What are daily hassles?

Answer
Definition

Minor irritations or nuisances encountered daily, such as traffic or arguments.

Term
Hassles and Uplifts Scale

Which scale measures daily hassles and uplifts?

Answer
Scale

The Hassles and Uplifts Scale by Kanner et al. (1981).

Term
Impact of Daily Hassles

How do daily hassles impact stress compared to major life events?

Answer
Impact

They can cumulatively create significant stress, sometimes more than isolated major events.

Term
Workplace Stress Factors

What are two main factors that influence workplace stress?

Answer
Factors

Workload and control over tasks.

Term
Job Strain

What is "job strain"?

Answer
Definition

A workplace condition of high demand and low control, causing high stress.

Term
Effect of Control on Stress

How does control affect workplace stress?

Answer
Effect

More control generally reduces stress and increases job satisfaction.

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🌸 Stress Sources Quiz

1. Which of the following is NOT considered a major life change stressor?

Traffic jams are daily hassles, not major life changes.

2. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) was developed to:

The SRRS assigns Life Change Units to major life events to estimate stress risk.

3. According to research, daily hassles:

Frequent minor irritations can accumulate and harm psychological health.

4. What does “job strain” refer to?

Job strain combines high demands with low autonomy, producing stress.

5. Which of the following workplace factors generally reduces stress?

Greater control helps workers feel empowered and reduces stress.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Psychology
  • AS & A Level
  • Social Psychology
  • AQA