Occupational Stress: Review and Reappraisal

This article presents an overview of the topic of occupational stress. Although its framework is somewhat conceptual, the article is intended to alert researchers to the practical considerations relevant to this topic. The authors attempt to arrive at a workable definition of stress, and then proceed to review the literature in this area, focusing on the measurement, sources, and management of stress, as well as the relationship between stress and coronary heart disease. Concepts related to stress (mental load, fatigue, and arousal) are defined and differentiated. Throughout, the effects of individual attributes are emphasized, as are the implications of investigating stress in the laboratory as opposed to the work environment.