A compact, evidence-based overview of occupational stress

Written by a leading occupational psychologist
Explores the causes of occupational stress
Provides evidence-based prevention strategies
Highlights current self-report measures

The workplace can be a major source of stress, and this can cause health problems that have a negative impact on individuals, organizations, and society. This concise, evidence-based volume, written by a leading occupational health psychologist, explores how work conditions and organizational characteristics pose threats and harms to people’s well-being through the lens of occupation stress theories and models. The author then summarizes the potential adverse impacts of major job stressors across individuals, families, organizations, and nations. In a final section, several evidence-based prevention strategies targeting individuals, management, and organizations are explored, including recovery from work, job crafting, and supervisors as change agents. Practitioners can modify and tailor these actionable strategies to assist employees and organizations in managing occupational stress. This book is essential reading for clinical and occupational psychologists, managers, supervisors, and anyone interested in making the workplace a healthier place.

From the reviews

“This book presents a good overview of issues related to occupational stress. For such a brief review, this book is very comprehensive. It transitions logically through the concepts provided, making for a good frame of understanding. Beginning with basic terminology and definitions, it goes on to explore theories and models, which are both valuable and fascinating. Major sections describe job stressors and how these can be prevented.”
Charla S. Waxman, BS, MBA, EdD, Waukegan, IL, in Doody’s Reviews, December 2023

Praise for the book

“In this volume Dr. Chen, one of the pioneers and innovators in the field, summarizes the terminology, theory, impacts, and interventions for stress in the workplace. As adults we spend most of our waking time at work: With attention to detail, Dr. Chen educates the reader on the importance of attending to stress in the workplace and helps us understand the impact of stress on this important part of our lives.”
Ernest L. Chavez, PhD, Professor, Director of the NSF-Funded Rocky Mountain LSAMP, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

“This highly professional overview of the field of occupational stress explores theories of stress, sources of workplace pressure, and how occupational health psychologists tend to deal with them. It is an easy-to-read, comprehensive review of the subject, and a must-read for practicing counsellors, psychotherapists, and clinicians from relevant fields.”
Sir Cary Cooper, CBE, Professor at University of Manchester & Chair of the National Forum for Health & Wellbeing at Work, UK

“I enjoyed reading this book, which provides a comprehensive and nuanced overview of the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of occupational stress. It offers excellent evidence-based guidance for professionals responsible for understanding, assessing, and intervening to reduce workplace stressors and their harmful effects.”
Michelle R. Tuckey, Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology, Centre for Workplace Excellence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

“Occupational Stress provides a concise introduction to this field that is well-researched, very clearly written, and full of extremely useful practical information. Dr. Chen is a widely recognized expert in this field, so this is a must-read for both researchers and managers in organizations.”
Steve M. Jex, Professor of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

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