{"616684":{"#nid":"616684","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Countering Chronic Hindrances at Work ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to the health effects of chronic stress, the type of stressor matters a lot. At work, most stressors are one of two types: hindrances or challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHindrances are stress factors that just get in the way and thwart performance. Examples are an abusive boss, constant interruptions, and harassment. These stressors don\u0026rsquo;t do anything to help employees. Their impact on performance is purely negative.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, challenges are stressors that help workers achieve, learn, and grow. Example are time pressure or a high work load. As workers successfully manage these situations, their performance improves.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Hindrances are relatively more detrimental for health compared to challenges,\u0026rdquo; says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/kimberly-french\u0022\u003EKimberly French\u003C\/a\u003E. The assistant professor in the School of Psychology examined the relation between stressors and metabolic risk, as measured by levels of insulin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and other indicators of metabolic disorders that could lead to bad health outcomes, such as heart disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn recent analysis of data from \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/midus.wisc.edu\/\u0022\u003Ethe National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) II\u003C\/a\u003E, French and colleagues found that among three behaviors associated with chronic work stress \u0026ndash; eating, smoking, and alcohol consumption \u0026ndash; eating and smoking were the most likely behaviors of workers exposed to hindrances. In addition, workers chronically exposed to hindrances were more likely to eat high-sugar and high-fat foods. Consequently, exposure to hindrances was also associated with increased risk for metabolic disorders.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWorkers exposed to challenges were more likely to consume alcohol. French suggests drinking alcoholic beverages\u0026nbsp;may be viewed as a reward for accomplishment at work. The study was published in the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Focp0000138\u0022\u003EJournal of Occupational and Health Psychology\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe findings have practical implications. \u0026ldquo;Eating healthy foods is really important,\u0026rdquo; French says. \u0026ldquo;Be aware of what you eat especially when you are exposed to chronic hindrances.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, employers could provide healthy foods rather than unhealthy snacks when workers are under pressure.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAnother tip from French: Take positive action to avoid hindrances. \u0026ldquo;If you are experiencing frequent interruptions or irritating coworkers, modify your work day or focus on different projects,\u0026rdquo; she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEmployers, on the other hand, should design the work place to minimize hindrances and increase challenges: explore how employees can take more responsibility; make sure they are not bored.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Study suggests not all work stress is bad for workers\u2019 health"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to the health effects of chronic stress, the type of stressor matters a lot.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Study suggests not all work stress is bad for workers\u2019 health."}],"uid":"30678","created_gmt":"2019-01-22 16:13:49","changed_gmt":"2019-01-22 19:07:38","author":"A. Maureen Rouhi","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2019-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2019-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"616714":{"id":"616714","type":"image","title":"Healthy eating is essential for workers subject to chronic hindrances. (Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash)","body":null,"created":"1548183965","gmt_created":"2019-01-22 19:06:05","changed":"1548184099","gmt_changed":"2019-01-22 19:08:19","alt":"","file":{"fid":"234724","name":"jessica-lewis-621064-unsplash.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/jessica-lewis-621064-unsplash.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/jessica-lewis-621064-unsplash.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":648441,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/jessica-lewis-621064-unsplash.jpg?itok=YYi4DBpO"}},"616681":{"id":"616681","type":"image","title":"Kimberly French","body":null,"created":"1548173291","gmt_created":"2019-01-22 16:08:11","changed":"1548173291","gmt_changed":"2019-01-22 16:08:11","alt":"","file":{"fid":"234712","name":"2019 Kimberly French.sq2_.5.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/2019%20Kimberly%20French.sq2_.5.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/2019%20Kimberly%20French.sq2_.5.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":417880,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/2019%20Kimberly%20French.sq2_.5.jpg?itok=s8DI92MG"}}},"media_ids":["616714","616681"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"180259","name":"workers\u0027 health"},{"id":"180260","name":"work stressors"},{"id":"167710","name":"School of Psychology"},{"id":"180261","name":"Kimberly French"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA. Maureen Rouhi, Ph.D.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDirector of Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maureen.rouhi@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}