Sources of Stress> Environmental/Situational, External - Frustration (Physical, Social, and Internal Stressors)

Frustration arises when goal-directed behaviour is blocked. It is a major source of stress from physical, social, and internal factors.​ Mild, short-term frustration → low stress; intense or prolonged frustration → chronic stress and risk of illness.

1. Physical (external) Frustrations

• Come from the physical environment.
• Examples: fire, flood, cyclones, accidents, war.
• They directly interfere with daily life and goals, so they commonly produce stress.

2. Social Frustrations

• Arise from social rules, values, and relationships.
• Sources: restrictions on inter-caste/inter-religion marriage, rapid social change, competition, social uncertainty, and religious intolerance.
• Lead to feelings of inadequacy, isolation, insecurity, anguish, and psychological pain.

3. Internal Frustrations

• Originate within the person.
• Sources: physical deformity, low intelligence, feeling unattractive, strong need for power/prestige/recognition.
• Unrealistically high standards of living and very high aspirations without the capacity to meet them create ongoing stress.

• The same event can be more stressful for one person and less for another.
• Example: some find a friend’s disloyalty more stressful than losing money; others feel the opposite.
• Stress is harder to tolerate when a person is already ill, unhappy, or angry.
• When someone is already stressed, even a small extra stressor can disturb overall personality and adjustment (“last straw” effect).

• Minor hassles are small, frequent irritations of daily life.
• Examples: quarrels at home, children’s homework issues, too many tasks in little time, financial problems, family disagreements, and being scolded for behaviour.
• They are low in intensity but high in frequency.
• Research using “hassle scales” shows a strong positive correlation between frequency/intensity of hassles and psychological problems.​
• Frequent daily hassles are an important cause of stress and disorganised psychological symptoms.

1. Overload and Work Pressure

• Many people spend more time at work than on any other activity.
• Sources: long hours, heavy workload, pressure for promotion and success, need for money and status.
• Extreme overload and pressure can lead to burnout, serious psychological problems, and in severe cases, self-harm.

2. Underload (too little work)

• Too little work can also be stressful, especially for efficient workers.
• Produces boredom, feelings of neglect, and a sense of insult to ability and intelligence.
• Both overwork and underwork are harmful; a balanced workload is ideal.

3. Role Conflict

• Occurs when a worker faces incompatible demands from different groups.
• Example: a manager pressured by employees to improve conditions and by the employer to cut costs.
• Creates “do vs don’t do” tension and high stress.

4. Performance Appraisal

• Refers to methods used to evaluate employee performance (ACR/CCR, customer ratings, supervisor evaluation, student ratings of teachers).
• Fair, transparent appraisal → low stress.
• Unfair, biased, or arbitrary appraisal → very high stress due to fear of losing promotion, increment, or bonus.
• Many organisations are moving towards open appraisal and self-appraisal systems to reduce stress.

5. Other Work-related Stressors

• Unclear duties and responsibilities.
• No participation in decision-making.
• Unpleasant or unhealthy work environment.
• Conflict with boss and co-workers.
• Lack of social support.
• Long, tiring travel between home and the workplace.

6. Reducing Workplace Stress

• Choose jobs suited to the worker’s abilities and interests.
• Build social support at work (supportive colleagues and supervisors).
• Develop planned, healthy work habits and time management.
• Use counselling and intervention programmes to handle internal personality factors and unhealthy coping.
• These steps help employees adjust better and reduce the harmful effects of work stress.

• Frustration is a major source of stress and can be physical, social, or internal.
• A threat to survival, self-worth, or social status produces high stress and anxiety.
• Minor daily hassles, though small, are frequent and strongly related to psychological problems.
• Work-related stress arises from overload, underload, role conflict, unfair appraisal, and poor work conditions.
• Balanced workload, fair systems, social support, and counselling can reduce the negative effects of workplace stress.