Case Analysis of Work and Life Stressors

Abstract

Work and life stressors can involve many facets in an individual’s life. Work and life stressors can be harmful to an individual’s well –being, such as anxiety, agitation, and sleeplessness. Understanding the primary issue and seeking help to develop intervention and coping methods are beneficial to an individual’s well –being. Addressing primary issues of stressors can provide an understanding of the initial stress factors and ways to reduce or eliminate that stressor. Intervention and coping methods allows for an individual to intervene their stressor and develop methods that would help them cope with their stressor. Developing a case analysis on the facets of work and life stressors and individual well –being, addresses the importance of seeking out a professional’s help and not self –diagnosing. Professionals can aid in prescribing medicine or more natural methods according to an individual’s diagnosis, while self –diagnosing can aid in developing a habit, such as alcoholism. Also, the stressors that can develop through job –demand, increase responsibilities (e.g., work and home), and family concern (e.g., college tuition, learning disabilities).

Introduction

This case study analysis “Living Well: Stress, Coping, and Life Satisfaction in Adulthood” focuses on the stresses of an adult male daily work and personal life. This case study is presented in Broderick and Blewitt (2010) Chapter 14: Page 182. The case study provides information that focuses on factors of stress inducing events and coping methods that are being utilized. Daily life activities, such as workplace routines, personal stressors (e.g., family, bills, self –regard), and other factors can take a toll on individuals. This document will discuss the primary issue of work and life stressors within the case, the presenting challenges and researched based alternatives to why the challenge has occurred. Also, discussed within this document are intervention processes (e.g. coping methods, stress management) to aid in understanding and developing a better system to attain work and life satisfaction.

Primary Issue

            The primary issue is work and life stressors. Many stressors affect people differently and dealing with everyday work and life stressors can be more complex to some. This case study focuses on the work and life stressors of a middle aged man named David (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). Work stressors are connected to his life stressors. Work stressors involve working in human resources which is currently merging with a larger organization in order to cut costs (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). During this merger, work has become more complicated, requiring more processing of information through advance computer technology, tasks being redistributed, and job cuts. The life stressors are taking the primary responsibility in two of his children’s college tuition and dealing with his twin step –sons, with one that has a learning disability that needs extra tutoring and parent support to keep up academically (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010).

            David’s workload has increased and his is not allocated enough time to finish was is being requested. His responsibilities have increased and he has now added weekends into his agenda for work. Through these stressors David has begun to suffer from significant pain in his lower back and believes it may be from a minor accident (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). Experiencing this pain has kept him up at nights and has contributed to his agitated and on the edge type feelings (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). His physician has prescribed medicine to aid with sleeping and anxiety. David has also begun consuming alcohol at night for him to cope with his current situations (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010).

            David has developed stressors that can be harmful to his well –being and has self –diagnosed himself by not realizing that the cause of his sleepless nights and severe back pain could be caused by his work demand and family responsibilities. The issues involve the inability to recognize the foundations of his stress and addressing the stressors accordingly. Each of David’s stressors present challenges that can have negative and positive impacts on his well –being. It is important for him to address them and to seek out help from a professional.

Presenting Challenges

            The presenting challenges within this case analysis are work and life stressors that are causing David to consume alcohol, developed severe back pain, and have sleepless nights. David’s challenges, such as increase in work load, time management, increase in responsibilities, and sole responsibility for his children’s college tuition, and extra attention for his step –son learning disabilities has caused him to seek out medical attention but also seek out self-medication (alcohol).

            The challenges are David’s work and home demands. David is faced with challenging job demands that contain both stressful and challenging aspects. These challenging aspects can involve negative and positive stressors, such as strain on his well –being or the ability to develop a healthy well –being, grow and manage stress appropriately (Widmer et. al., 2012). The negative challenges to David’s well –being consists of going through severe back pain, anxiety, agitation, and alcoholism. The positive challenges can develop through stress –management and coping methods that will be beneficial towards David’s well –being. David’s life stressors focus mainly on his sole responsibilities of two of his children’s college tuition and his step –son learning disabilities. In order for him to target these challenges he needs to learn stress management methods that involve functioning through both work and life (Widmer et al. 2012).

Intervention Process

            Intervention process and methods focuses on improving the quality of work and life stressors, as well as protecting and promoting well –being. Improving work stressors is identifying and understanding the stressors, such as hours worked, responsibilities, initial stress factors, and so forth (Lemaire & Wallace, 2012). It is important to understand the facets of the stressors in order to intervene and develop processes and coping methods. Improving life stressors connects with understanding and improving work stressors.

            Intervention and coping methods generally refer to behavioral and psychological efforts that are used to deal with stress (Lemaire & Wallace, 2012). It is important to seek out the help of a professional to gain a perspective of what methods would be appropriate to use (Lemaire & Wallace, 2012). Self –evaluating and diagnosing can lead to unhealthy ways of coping with stressors, such as alcoholism.

            Intervention and coping methods include developing processes that will be less stressful at work, such as prioritizing work responsibilities and asking for help when needed (Lemaire & Wallace, 2012). David’s has been given more responsibilities at work and has increased his workload. Obvious to David he cannot handle the added job demands, so it is important for him to seek out help within the workplace and discuss his added stressors. The stressors David has developed because of the challenges of work has put a strain on his well –being and being able to talk with others (e.g., supervisor and professional) can aid in reducing stress. David can plan a method that would allow him to limit his workload and life responsibilities if able. He can take control of his environment, alter his situations, manage his time better, and find a middle (compromise work and life responsibilities), and express his feelings and concern for his well –being (Lemaire & Wallace, 2012).

            Methods addressed by professionals, is to find ways through the importance of co –workers and family. It is vital to discuss stressors to eliminate and reduce stressful events and situations (Diehl & Hay, 2011). Methods that can be incorporated to help with David’s stressors of sleepless nights, anxiety, agitation, and self –medicating (alcohol) are taking walks, exercising (helps with developing tiredness and sleep), finding leisure (e.g., vacation, spa, hobby), or medical methods prescribed by a doctor (Diehl & Hay, 2011).

Conclusion

            Work and life stressors can be damaging to a person’s well –being. It is important to find the foundation of the stressors and to approach them accordingly. Not understanding stressors and self –medicating can lead to a further unhealthy well –being. David’s case involved him developing anxiety, agitation “over the edge” persona, the inability to sleep at night, and turning to alcohol in order to cope with his stressors. He sought help through his physician but did not develop coping methods that was beneficial towards his well –being. Intervention and coping methods helps reduce stressors that has developed through job –demands and daily life events. It is important to seek out the help of those, such as professionals to help develop a plan to reduce and cope with stress.

References

Broderick, P. and Blewitt, P. (2010). The Life Span: Human Development for Helping

            Professionals. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.           

Diehl, M., & Hay, E. L. (2011). Risk and resilience factors in coping with daily stress in adulthood: The role of age, self –concept incoherence, and personal control. Developing Psychology, 46(5), 1132-1146. Doi: 10.1037/a001937

Lemaire, J. B., & Wallace, J. E. (2010). Not all coping strategies are created equal: A mixed methods study exploring physicians’ self –reported coping strategies. BMC Health Services Research, 10, 208. Doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-208

Widmer, P. S., Semmer, N. K., Kalin, W., Jacobshagen, N., & Meier, L. L. (2012). The ambivalence of challenge stressors: Time pressure associated with both negative and positive well –being. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(2), 422-433. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.09.006