Work Stress and its Effect on Employee Health: A Review

PSM502 180038338
Work stress is a potential Killer- Discuss
Introduction
Employees are spending long hours at work, thereby a lot of focus is being paid to work
stress along with psychosocial work environment (Kivimaki & Kawachi, 2015). Work stress
combined with other elements like finance, relationships, and change needs to be managed by
individuals. Combination of these factors makes today's life very stressful and comes at the
cost of physical and mental health (Cohen, 2001). Work-related stress has been increasing
significantly over time globally (Jian & Siegrist, 2016). Hoven and Siegrist (2013) suggested
that employment and work conditions play a critical role in promoting adverse health effects
on people. There has been an ongoing debate amongst the researchers on whether the work
stress poses a potential risk factor and is a cause of some chronic ailments like cardiovascular
diseases, blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension (Kivimaki et al., 2015). This essay aims
to review and study various findings regarding work stress and its effect on the life and health
of individuals. This essay will also discuss the Demand-Control Model and Effort-Reward
Imbalance Model to explain the relationship between job stress and its impact on employee
well-being.
BP and Work Stress
Gilbert, Trudel, Brisson, Milot, and Vezina (2014), conducted a meta-analysis review based
on studies have done linking Blood Pressure (BP) to work stress. To assess the effect that
work-related stress had on BP, Demand Control Support (DCS) and Effort-Reward
Imbalance (ERI) models were used (Gilbert et al., 2014). High blood pressure (BP) is a
significant threat to lives as it is the leading risk factor for causing cardiovascular diseases
(CVD) (Gilbert et al., 2014). Cardiovascular diseases being the leading cause of death
worldwide. Demand control support (DCS) model states that working adults that experience
high psychological demands and have no autonomy over job are very likely to suffer stress-
related issues in health (Gilbert et al., 2014). Also, the lack of peer support and the inability
to develop skills adds on to the psychological stress factors amongst the employees is the
other element DCS Model focusses on (Gilbert et al., 2014). The ERI model determines the
degree of imbalance between effort and the corresponding rewards (Siegrist & Li, 2016).
When evaluating the ERI models for working individuals, an imbalance is an evidence
showing that the excessive efforts done by them aren't being rewarded adequately. This
emotion leads to negative emotions and stress, leading to ill-health in employees (Siegrist &
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PSM502 180038338
Li, 2016). The model states that stress takes place in individuals due to lack of appreciation,
rewards, and jobs with high demands and low returns. Also, the lack of job security is another
factor that increases the stress amongst employees (Siegrist et al.1990; Siegrist 1996)
Based on the review and findings of their studies, Gilbert et al. (2014) suggested that that
psychosocial work factors lead to the elevation of BP. Constant exposure to high BP and
hypertension due to work amplify over time, and that triggers cardiovascular events. The
elevation of BP can successively lead to hypertension, stroke and arterial stiffness (Gilbert et
al., 2014). The adverse effects of psychosocial stressors occur due to the cumulative impact
of prolonged or multiple exposures. The sympathetic nervous system, which is the primary
mediator of the stress response is one of the pathways that activate the renin-angiotensin
system (Gilbert et al., 2014). Therefore, stress can stimulate the secretion of rennin as well as
increased plasma levels of angiotensin II that has a vital effect on blood vessel walls. This
study establishes a link between work stress and elevated BP, which in turn could lead to
CVD (Gilbert et al., 2014). Thereby the researchers suggested that the psychosocial elements
of work mentioned in the ERI and DCS models contributed to the elevation in BP and could
lead to CVD (Gilbert et al., 2014).
Siegrist & Li (2016), suggested that people who were over-committed to their jobs also were
at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and other symptoms like BP, atherogenic
lipids, increase in glucose levels and fibrinogen also building up towards CVD. The reduction
in natural killer cells compromised the immune system. The need to overcommit was linked
to the ERI model of (Siegrist et al. 1990 & Siegrist 1996), wherein individuals
overcommitted and overworked to get approval and receive recognition. This study helped in
suggesting a connection between the ERI model, health and the intrinsic component of the
model. Individuals who are exposed to more extended working hours are exposed to stressful
working conditions, and that causes the emergence of health complications (Lancet, 2015).
Employees that assume that they are not being treated fairly by their organization will be
more prone to stress-linked diseases (Elovaino et al., 2010).
CHD and Work Stress
Work-related stress is also able to increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD),
suggested in a study done by (Chandola, Britton, Brunner, Hemmingway, Malik, Kumari,
Badrick, Kivimaki & Marmot, 2007). Chandola et al. (2007) conducted a study in London
among civil servants with the aim of understanding the correlation between coronary heart
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