Ch07 Workplace Stress Issues and Management Organizations.docx

Chapter 07 Workplace Stress: Issues and Management, Organizations   True / False Questions   1. (p. 197) At one time, only the salaried elite enjoyed work/family balance programs.  TRUE     2. (p. 197) By 2020, fewer than 1 in every 4 working adults will be over the age of 65.  FALSE   Rationale: By 2020, more than 1 in every 4 working adults will be over the age of 65.   3. (p. 197) The work and personal lives of employees are interconnected.  TRUE     4. (p. 197) The experience of work-life stress is a new phenomenon.  FALSE   Rationale: Work-life stress has been around since caveman times.   5. (p. 198) The elimination of stress is beyond the capability of managers in work settings.  TRUE   6. (p. 198) Workplace stress can have positive results.  TRUE     7. (p. 198) Stress can be defined as either a stimulus or a response.  TRUE     8. (p. 199) Rumors of an impending layoff are never as stressful as knowing for sure that you will be laid off.  FALSE   Rationale: For some people, rumors of an impending layoff may be more stressful than knowing for certain they will be laid off.   9. (p. 199) Generally speaking, the shorter the length of time that special demands are placed on us, the more stressful the situation.  FALSE   Rationale: Generally speaking, the longer special demands are placed on us, the more stressful the situation.   10. (p. 199) Chronic stress can last for months or even years.  TRUE   11. (p. 199) Long duration stress is sometimes referred to as persistent stress.  FALSE   Rationale: Long duration stress is sometimes referred to as chronic stress.   12. (p. 199) For most employed people, work and work-related activities represent much more than a 40-hour per week commitment.  TRUE     13. (p. 200) Age is an individual difference than can act as a moderator.  TRUE     14. (p. 200) Stress prevention and management can be initiated by individuals, as well as by organizations.  TRUE     15. (p. 201) A study at the Goddard Space Flight Center determined that less than 25 percent of their employees experienced role conflict.  FALSE   Rationale: A study at Goddard Space Flight Center determined that more than 65 percent of their employees experienced role conflict.   16. (p. 201) Employees who experience role conflict also experience lower job satisfaction.  TRUE     17. (p. 201) The greater the power or authority of the person sending conflicting messages, the lower the level of job dissatisfaction produced by role conflict.  FALSE   Rationale: The greater the power or authority of the person sending conflicting messages, the higher the level of job dissatisfaction produced by role conflict.   18. (p. 201) Qualitative overload can result from having insufficient time to complete a job.  FALSE   Rationale: Having too many things to do or having insufficient time to complete a job results in quantitative overload.   19. (p. 201-202) When individuals experience high work demands, with little or no control over the demands, they experience physiological changes that persist even after leaving work.  TRUE     20. (p. 202) The more hardiness a manager possesses, the smaller the effect of life changes on their personal health.  TRUE   21. (p. 204) Being asked to participate in decision making can be a stressor for some people.  TRUE     22. (p. 204) Problem relationships can lead to low job satisfaction and increase the likelihood of stress.  TRUE     23. (p. 204) Office politics are seldom cited as a primary stressor in organizations.  FALSE   Rationale: Office politics are consistently cited as a primary stressor in organizations.   24. (p. 204) The personality of an organization is shaped largely by its workforce.  FALSE   Rationale: The personality of an organization is shaped largely by its top executives.   25. (p. 204) Performance feedback creates a high level of stress, no matter how it is communicated.  FALSE   Rationale: Stress can be minimized if performance feedback is presented via open, two-way communication.   26. (p. 205) The stress produced outside of work is likely to affect a person's work performance, but has no effect on work behavior in general.  FALSE   Rationale: The stress produced outside of work is likely to affect both a person's work performance and overall work behavior.   27. (p. 205) There are no negative consequences associated with too little stress.  FALSE   Rationale: Negative consequences are associated with both too little and too much stress.   28. (p. 206) A comprehensive survey of American workers concluded that a third of them experienced job stress-related depression.  TRUE     29. (p. 207) Cognitive outcomes of stress include physical manifestations, such as being prone to accidents.  TRUE     30. (p. 207) Several studies have found a relationship between changes in blood pressure and job stress.  TRUE   31. (p. 207) Burnout tends to be a particular problem among people whose jobs require extensive contact with and/or responsibility for large sums of money.  FALSE   Rationale: Burnout tends to be a particular problem among people whose jobs require extensive contact with and/or responsibility for other people.   32. (p. 211) Some people are predisposed to stress; that is, they cannot adapt to the stressor.  TRUE     33. (p. 210) Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.  TRUE     34. (p. 210) Fewer than 25 percent of all visits to a physician's office are for stress-related illnesses and complaints.  FALSE   Rationale: As many as 90 percent of all visits to a physician's office are for stress-related illnesses and complaints.   35. (p. 212) Internals perceive themselves to be in control of the events that shape their lives.  TRUE   36. (p. 212) Internals are likely to feel threatened in situations where they can exercise some degree of control over what is happening.  FALSE   Rationale: Externals are likely to feel threatened in such situations.   37. (p. 212) Individuals with high levels of self-efficacy are more likely to perceive potential stressors as challenges and opportunities.  TRUE     38. (p. 213) Someone with a Type B personality may have considerable drive, want to accomplish things and work hard.  TRUE     39. (p. 215) The person-environment fit approach is similar to the concept of the psychological contract.  TRUE     40. (p. 215) An individual who is by nature authoritarian will not experience stress in a participative organization.  FALSE   Rationale: An individual who is by nature authoritarian will experience stress in a participative organization.   41. (p. 215) Once in the organization, a critical variable in maximizing fit and preventing stress is effective socialization.  TRUE    42. (p. 217) Many of the concerns of wellness programs are at least partially stress related.  TRUE    43. (p. 220) If an individual labels a situation a catastrophe, the stress response is to the label, not to the situation.  TRUE     44. (p. 221) Transcendental meditation has been associated with reduced heart rate and lowered oxygen consumption.  TRUE     45. (p. 222) Biofeedback training has been useful in reducing the likelihood of ulcer formation.  TRUE   46. (p. 219) The health and well-being of employees should be made a part of an organization's strategic plans.  TRUE   Multiple Choice Questions   47. (p. 197) To date, research suggests that all of the following are improved among employees who have accessed work/life program activities except:  A. Morale B. Career opportunities C. Job satisfaction D. Health     48. (p. 197-198) Stress is generally caused by all of the following except:  A. A wage increase B. Computer problems C. Marital disharmony D. Terrorism     49. (p. 198) Workplace stress spills over into one's ____________________ life.  A. Personal B. Family C. Community D. All of the choices are correct     50. (p. 199) All of the following factors determine whether an experience is likely to result in stress except:  A. Frequency B. Importance C. Uncertainty D. Duration   51. (p. 199) Which of the following is not one of the main categories into which stressors are divided?  A. Individual B. Interpersonal C. Organizational D. Extra organizational     52. (p. 199) When stress evokes a positive or uplifting outcome, it is referred to as ____________________.  A. Euphoria B. Exhilaration C. Elation D. Eustress     53. (p. 200) Work-related stress produces ____________________ outcomes.  A. Behavioral B. Cognitive C. Physiological D. All of the choices are correct     54. (p. 200) Which of the following is not considered an organizational-level stressor?  A. Culture B. Volunteer work C. Politics D. Technology   55. (p. 201) Stressors are those ____________________ that place special demands on a person.  A. Actions B. Events C. Situations D. All of the choices are correct     56. (p. 201) As organizations attempt to increase productivity while decreasing workforce size, ____________________ overload increases.  A. Qualitative B. Quantitative C. Qualitative and quantitative     57. (p. 201) Executives in the ____________________ portion of the stress range experience more significant medical problems.  A. Low B. High C. Middle D. High and low     58. (p. 202) The most pervasive individual stressor is ____________________.  A. The unrelenting pace of change B. Demanding bosses C. The never-ending push to do more with less D. Low pay   59. (p. 202) Hardiness is supposed to reduce stress by changing the way stressors are ____________________.  A. Intercepted B. Handled C. Perceived D. Managed     60. (p. 204) Downsizing is primarily associated with all of the following except:  A. Layoffs B. Birth rates C. Redeployment D. Early retirement     61. (p. 205) Studies have shown that disability claims can increase by as much as ____________________ in companies that have recently downsized.  A. 5 percent B. 20 percent C. 50 percent D. 70 percent     62. (p. 205) ____________________ workers report the most stress-related boredom and apathy.  A. Skilled blue-collar B. Unskilled blue-collar C. Professional white-collar D. Nonprofessional white-collar   63. (p. 206) Polls indicate that more than 40 percent of Japanese workers aged 30 to 60 believe they will die from ____________________.  A. A heart attack B. Old age C. The stress of overwork D. Cancer     64. (p. 207) Cognitive outcomes of stress include poor concentration and ____________________.  A. An inability to make sound decisions B. An inability to make any decisions C. A decreased attention span D. All of the choices are correct     65. (p. 208) A high degree of identification with or commitment to, ____________________ is a necessary prerequisite for burnout.  A. Ethics B. Morals C. One's job or profession D. Religious doctrines     66. (p. 208) Which of the following statements about burnout is incorrect?  A. Women are more likely to burn out than men B. Men are more likely to burn out than women C. Younger workers are more susceptible to burnout than older ones D. Unmarried workers are more likely to burn out than are married ones   67. (p. 208) The problematic relationship between a person and the work environment that contributes to burnout is typically referred to in terms of a lack of ____________________.  A. Fit B. Congruence C. Hardiness D. Training     68. (p. 209) Stress costs American organizations approximately ____________________ per employee annually.  A. $500 B. $1,500 C. $7,500 D. $10,000     69. (p. 210) Almost every stress management program includes some form of ____________________.  A. Personalized training B. Regular exercise C. Biofeedback D. All of the choices are correct     70. (p. 211) Of the Big Five Model personality dimensions, ____________________ is the most clearly related to stress.  A. Emotional stability B. Extroversion C. Agreeableness D. Conscientiousness   71. (p. 211) Of the Big Five Model personality dimensions, those high on ____________________ are more predisposed to experience positive emotional states.  A. Emotional stability B. Extroversion C. Agreeableness D. Conscientiousness     72. (p. 212) ____________________ is the Big Five Model personality dimension most consistently related to job performance and success.  A. Emotional stability B. Extroversion C. Agreeableness D. Conscientiousness     73. (p. 212) Persons who score high on ____________________ are better prepared to deal with stressors associated with change.  A. Openness to experience B. Extroversion C. Agreeableness D. Conscientiousness     74. (p. 213) ____________________ is the Type A personality subcomponent most predictive of the development of coronary heart disease.  A. Aggressiveness B. Ambitiousness C. Impatience D. Hostility   75. (p. 216) Employee assistance programs (EAPs) started out as ____________________ programs.  A. Mental health B. Physical abuse C. Emergency assistance D. Alcohol abuse     76. (p. 217) ____________________ is crucial to the success of any employee assistance program.  A. Trust B. Job security C. Funding D. Information     77. (p. 217) According to the text, ____________________ has been cited as the greatest cause of poor health habits.  A. Television B. Junk food C. Stress D. Heredity     78. (p. 221) The most effective relaxation activity is taking ____________________ "mental rest" breaks.  A. A few short B. Frequent, short C. Fewer, longer D. Taking mental breaks is not an effective relaxation activity   79. (p. 221) Biofeedback can help individuals bring ____________________ under voluntary control.  A. Brain waves B. Heart rates C. Body temperature D. All of the choices are correct   Fill in the Blank Questions   80. (p. 198) A ____________________ is a potentially harmful or threatening external event or situation.  stressor     81. (p. 198) Stress is the consequence of the interaction between an environmental stimulus and the individual's ____________________.  response     82. (p. 199) For an action, situation or even to result in stress, it must be perceived by the individual as ____________________.  a threat, a challenge or harmful     83. (p. 211) A ____________________ is a condition, behavior or characteristic that influences the relationship between two variables. The effect may be to intensify or weaken the relationship.  moderator     84. (p. 211) The Big Five Model of personality is made up of five dimensions: extroversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness and ____________________.  openness to experience   85. (p. 213) ____________________ support can be defined as the comfort, assistance or information one receives through formal or informal contacts with individuals or groups.  Social   Short Answer Questions   86. (p. 201) Under what circumstances does role conflict occur?  Role conflict occurs when an individual's compliance with one set of expectations conflicts with another set of expectations    87. (p. 207) List three physiological outcomes of stress  Any three of the following: (a) increased heart rate, (b) elevated blood pressure, (c) sweating, (d) hot and cold flashes, (e) increased blood glucose levels, (f) elevated stomach acid production     88. (p. 212) Individuals who score high on openness to experience are better prepared to deal with stressors associated with change. Why?  Because they are more likely to see change as a challenge, rather than a threat     89. (p. 213) What are you providing if you offer appraisal support?  You are providing feedback and affirmation   90. (p. 214) What is the very first step in any attempt to keep stress within tolerable limits?  Recognizing that stress exists     91. (p. 216) Two types of organizational stress prevention and management programs have become particularly popular in the last 20 years. The first is employee assistance programs. What is the second?  Wellness programs     92. (p. 216) Employee Assistance Programs tend to be based on a traditional medical approach to treatment and include four general program elements. The first element is diagnosis. What are the other three?  Treatment, screening and prevention     93. (p. 220) All cognitive techniques have a similar objective. What is it?  To help people gain control over their reactions to stressors by modifying their thought processes   Essay Questions   94. (p. 200) List five negative behavioral, cognitive, and/or physiological outcomes of stress  Behavioral outcomes: absenteeism, turnover, accidents, substance abuse, increased health care claims Cognitive outcomes: poor decision making, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, frustration, apathy Physiologicale outcomes: increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease     95. (p. 202) People with the hardiness personality trait seem to possess three important characteristics. What are they?  First, they believe that they can control the events they encounter. Second, they are extremely committed to the activities in their lives. Third, they treat change as a challenge     96. (p. 206-207) List six of the symptoms that the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders says must persist for at least two weeks in order for a diagnosis of depression to be made  Any six of the following: (a) depressed mood, (b) diminished interest in all or most activities, (c) marked psychomotor retardation, (d) significant appetite or weight change, (e) changes in sleep, (f) fatigue or loss of energy, (g) problems thinking or concentrating, (h) feelings of worthlessness, (i) excessive feelings of guilt, (j) thoughts of suicide or death   97. (p. 212-213) The person with a Type A behavior pattern demonstrates certain characteristics and behaviors. List four of them  Any four of the following: (1) Chronically struggles to get as many things done as possible in the shortest time period (2) Is aggressive, ambitious, competitive and forceful (3) Speaks explosively and rushes others to finish what they are saying (4) Is impatient, hates to wait and considers waiting a waste of precious time (5) Is preoccupied with deadlines and is work oriented (6) Is always in a struggle with people, things and events     98. (p. 215) A person-environment fit approach generally focuses on two dimensions of fit. What are they?  The two dimensions are (a) the extent to which work provides formal and informal rewards that meet or match the individual's needs and (b) the extent to which the individual's skills, abilities and experience match the demands and requirements of the employer     99. (p. N/A) Think of a situation, relationship or condition that ia currently causing you stress. Describe the situation, explain what it is about the situation that causes you stress and then explain what you plan to do to alleviate or reduce the stress  Student answers will vary   Matching Questions   100. (p. 202) Match the symptom to the type of stress that most likely caused it  1. Work underload       Insomnia    2  2. Work overload       Boredom    1  3. Work underload       Irritability    2  4. Work overload       Increased errors    2  5. Work underload       Apathy    1  6. Work overload       Absenteeism    1  7. Work underload       Decreased motivation    1  8. Work overload       Indecisiveness    2