New approaches to stress at work

Thinking beyond ‘demand and control’

Summary:

The mainstream view of stress at work is dominated by the demand– control–support and effort–reward imbalance models. But are these views too limited? Simon Pickvance examines new thinking on the origins of, and solutions for, work-related stress.

DOES stress exist? I’m told that in some discussions at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the ‘s’ word has been derided. Some academics feel that by drawing attention to the problem – whatever ‘stress’ may be – we encourage it. In this article I am going to use the word ‘stress’ as an umbrella term to indicate troubled psychological relationships at work.…

Simon Pickvance is senior adviser at Sheffield Occupational Health Advisory Service.

Author: Pickvance S

Tags mental health stress

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2007 (vol. 04/2) pp15-18

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