Thriving Under Stress Harnessing Demands in the Workplace

We have all experienced work conditions that tax our ability to cope. Many of us have experienced these demands for long periods of time and have developed psychological, and even physical, problems. Most employees can also recall times when they have dealt with the stress they were under at work, even coming out stronger. What helps employees to perform well and stay healthy under high levels of stress? What are the factors that distinguish those employees? What are the best ways to recover from a stressful day at work? How can employees proactively address stressors they encounter at work, and how can they move from "coping" to "thriving" in the workplace?

Thriving Under Stress illuminates the ways stressful working conditions can produce positive outcomes when employees approach demands in the right way, focus on the meaning and significance of their work, and recover appropriately from stressful working conditions, both during the day and when at home. Britt and Jex encourage employees to view themselves as active constructors of their work environment-capable of proactively addressing the burdens they encounter, instead of becoming passive recipients of work stressors.

Thomas W. Britt is Professor of Psychology at Clemson University. He has published a large number of empirical articles and book chapters, has been an editor for a book and 4-volume series in the area of military psychology, and is the co-author (with Steve Jex) of the book Organizational Psychology: A Scientist-Practitioner Approach (Second Edition). His articles have been published in leading journals such as The Harvard Business Review, Psychological Review, Psychological Bulletin, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the Journal of Personality, and the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. His research interests include factors that contribute to individual and organizational resilience under stressful conditions, the ways employees may derive benefits from exposure to stressful events, and what determines whether employees in high stress occupations seek needed treatment for mental health problems. In addition to being published in peer-reviewed outlets, Britt's research has also been featured in USA Today and CNN.com.

Steve M. Jex is Professor of Psychology at Bowling Green State University. In addition to his academic work, he has held Guest Researcher positions at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and most recently at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Jex's research has focused primarily on the role of individual differences in the stress process and his work has appeared in leading journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Work & Stress, and Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. His research has been funded through multiple contracts from the Department of Defense.