I've often wondered about such high-stress careers, especially those with a high-level of responsibility but a low-level of control (in outcomes), such as medical, law enforcement, fire-fighters and the presidency.
The stress level would make quite an impact on overall health, I'm sure, but I wonder what "types" of people (personality, characteristics, etc) actively choose those high-stress jobs, and if those jobs have the same effect on individuals who would not actively choose those jobs (but wind up in high stress jobs, anyways).
In other words, what motivates certain people toward these high level jobs in the first place?
One study found that the "types" of people in high stress jobs felt the effects of stress less (as measured by respiratory illnesses) if they perceived that they had personal control and had confidence.
The employees who were sick most often perceived they had control over their job responsibilities but did not have confidence and/or blamed themselves for bad outcomes.
It makes sense that President Bush may not experience as much stress as you would think with his job title, as (to the public eye), this research finding fits him best: the individual who sees him/herself as having control over work conditions and does not blame themselves for negative outcomes suffers the least amount of stress, even in a demanding job.
Interesting, right? The individual can essentially have a poor work performance, demanding job, high-stress levels, low approval/evaluation ratings...but if they are CONFIDENT and DO NOT BLAME THEMSELVES FOR NEGATIVE OUTCOMES...then they experience the least amount of stress.
Talk about the power of perception and positive thinking!
Source:
(April 2001) How people perceive personal control when coping with demanding jobs can make them more vulnerable to colds and the flu, says new study. Original study published in Journal of Applied Psychology.
Accessed at: http://www.apa.org/releases/controlflu.html
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I've often wondered about such high-stress careers, especially those with a high-level of responsibility but a low-level of control (in outcomes), such as medical, law enforcement, fire-fighters and the presidency.
The stress level would make quite an impact on overall health, I'm sure, but I wonder what "types" of people (personality, characteristics, etc) actively choose those high-stress jobs, and if those jobs have the same effect on individuals who would not actively choose those jobs (but wind up in high stress jobs, anyways).
In other words, what motivates certain people toward these high level jobs in the first place?
One study found that the "types" of people in high stress jobs felt the effects of stress less (as measured by respiratory illnesses) if they perceived that they had personal control and had confidence.
The employees who were sick most often perceived they had control over their job responsibilities but did not have confidence and/or blamed themselves for bad outcomes.
It makes sense that President Bush may not experience as much stress as you would think with his job title, as (to the public eye), this research finding fits him best: the individual who sees him/herself as having control over work conditions and does not blame themselves for negative outcomes suffers the least amount of stress, even in a demanding job.
Interesting, right? The individual can essentially have a poor work performance, demanding job, high-stress levels, low approval/evaluation ratings...but if they are CONFIDENT and DO NOT BLAME THEMSELVES FOR NEGATIVE OUTCOMES...then they experience the least amount of stress.
Talk about the power of perception and positive thinking!
Source:
January 4, 2009 - 6:02pm(April 2001) How people perceive personal control when coping with demanding jobs can make them more vulnerable to colds and the flu, says new study. Original study published in Journal of Applied Psychology.
Accessed at: http://www.apa.org/releases/controlflu.html
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