Where's All That Stress Coming From?
The life of a shiftworker is jam-packed with a variety of conflicts, creating that familiar strain that’s usually referred to as “stress.” The subject of work-family stress has been pounded to death in business and standard literature for some time, but the application to shiftworker families is often spotty. This article will examine some of the causes and representations of occupational and personal stress, and will suggest several means to reduce tension in your life.
Time-based Stress
Shiftwork stress is often about balancing time between work and family. The amount and degree of time-based stress is positively related to the number of hours worked, the number of hours spent commuting, the number of hours worked on overtime, and especially for our discussion, the presence and irregularity of shiftwork. When there is not enough time to attend to your responsibilities (work or family), the pressure can act on you like a vice.
Strain-based Stress
This type of stress occurs when two or more sets of pressures exist such that conforming to one set of pressure makes it more difficult or impossible to conform to the other. For example, you are pressured to finish a report at home one evening while your daughter’s back to school night is scheduled. Your dual roles of parent and worker are pushing you in two directions, and one of them is going to lose.
Behavior-based Stress
Everyone knows that behavior in one situation may not be suitable in another. But we seldom recognize that distinction when it comes to work and family life. The executive who must exhibit a certain emotional restriction among employees and peers must now be open and free with his or her children. The father with a drill sergeant attitude may elicit compliance among his children, but will not get the love and support he may have received otherwise. Some people have tremendous difficulty in changing their attitudes and outlooks within the multitude of roles they play.
What Can We Do?
Knowing how to identify the source of your stress is an important step. But there are things that both the employer and employee can do to alleviate conflicts and tension at home and at work.
Many employer-sponsored programs to alleviate stress focus on blending or blurring the boundary between the dual roles of worker and parent/spouse. With some activities however, the boundaries should be more firmly established or delineated. You should be aware of the distinction and judge for yourself if it is healthy.
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