Occupational Health Psychology

Since 1990, we have learnt a lot from occupational psychology about workplace culture and, in particular, stress in the workplace. This book provides a plan for tackling workplace stress from within. It allows organizations to identify and then seek solutions to its own specific problems. Constant and rapid change, which is a characteristic of all organizations today, demands that, as workers, we develop the ability to anticipate and adapt to change whilst minimising stress and disruption. 'Survival of the fittest' is no longer the rule but rather 'survival of the fitting'. This book is about developing this ability to adapt, both at an individual and an organizational level and, in the process, developing more effective organizational and personal resources and skill. At an individual level, the negative effects of stress are various: loss of creativity and effectiveness, loss of work motivation and pleasure, and various psychological and physical complaints. For organizations, the effects of high levels of stress are just as concerning: lower productivity and poorer quality failing communication and conflict high turnover of well-qualified employees high costs of sick leave and work disability negative public relations. Stress is a valuable indicator of individual and organizational health and well being. This book outlines a 7-stage project management approach to stress which identifies both personal and organizational sources of stress and examines the different ways in which individuals characteristically react, whilst an extensive Addendum offers a range of positive interventions. This book is intended as a textbook for HR professionals, consultants and line managers as well as individual employees interested in tackling stress in the workplace. The highly structured approach and the frequent use of Self-Assessment Questionnaires and Points for Reflection make this book a valuable teaching and self-learning tool. Above all, it is a practical guide to the problems of workplace stress. This book contains an overview of research into stress in the workplace and also provides a practical framework for which both students and managers can develop their skills and knowledge to implement effective intervention strategies in organisations.

Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field that focuses on the science and practice of psychology in promoting anddeveloping workplace health- and safety-related initiatives. This comprehensive text for undergraduate and graduate survey courses is the first toencompass a wide range of key issues in OHP from a North American perspective. It draws from the domains of psychology, public health, preventive medicine,nursing, industrial engineering, law, and epidemiology to focus on the theory and practice of protecting and promoting the health, well-being, and safetyof individuals in the workplace and improving the quality of work life. The text addresses key psychosocial work issues that are often related to mental and physical health problems, including psychological distress, burnout,depression, accidental injury, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. It examines leadership styles as they impact organizational culture and providesspecific recommendations for reducing employee-related stress through improved leader practices. Also addressed is the relationship between adversepsychosocial working conditions and harmful health behaviors, along with interventions aimed at improving the work environment and maximizingeffectiveness. Additionally, the book discusses how scientists and practitioners in OHP conduct research and other important concerns such as workplaceviolence, work/life balance, and safety. The book reinforces learning with chapter objectives, highlight boxes containing intriguing examples of researchand current controversies, and chapter summaries. Key Features: Comprises the first comprehensive text on Occupational Health Psychology for undergraduate and graduate survey courses Covers key issues in health psychology in the workplace such as stress, violence, work/life balance, and safety Organized and written for easy access by students and faculty Provides specific recommendation for reducing employee stress Includes learning objectives, highlight boxes, and end-of-chapter summaries