The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health favors the view that working conditions play a primary role in causing job stress. However, the role of individual factors is not ignored. According to the NIOSH view, exposure to stressful working conditions (called job stressors) can have a direct influence on worker safety and health.
But as shown below, individual and other situational factors can intervene to strengthen or weaken this influence. A person’s need to care for an ill parent is an increasingly common example of an individual or situational factor that may intensify the effects of stressful working conditions. Examples of individual and situational factors that can help to reduce the effects of stressful working conditions include the following:
- Balance between work and family or personal life
- A support network of friends and coworkers
- A relaxed and positive outlookDiscover more tips to reducing your stress by signing up below for our FREE Guide on reducing stress.
