Mental stress

Mental stress is undeniably on the increase in workplaces across all sectors. The effects of the strain it leads to on those affected can be positive (e.g. motivational variety for learning progress), neutral or negative (e.g. stressful experiences or a deterioration in health). We refer to the latter as instances of "impairing mental stress". Alongside musculoskeletal diseases, stress is the most significant health issue at European companies.

Reasons for the increasing incidence of impairing mental stress include rising demands where the quantity and quality of work are concerned. Growing job uncertainty and a lack of or insufficient ability amongst employees to fulfil performance targets also play a role. The latter issue can be attributable to a lack of qualification or personal skills. Stress factors are counteracted by relief factors (so-called "resources"), with increases in impairing mental stress often the result of a simultaneous decrease in resources. One example of this phenomenon is work intensification as a consequence of the implementation of lean management processes. Resources take the form of individual, organizational and miscellaneous other factors suited to the counteraction or prevention of the consequences of stress. The following list provides typical examples of stress factors and corresponding resource