2. Stress has harmful effects on health, leading to various illnesses such as
cardiovascular disorders, ulcers, hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer.
It weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to
infections and diseases.
Stress accelerates aging and can cause anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
It impairs cognitive functioning, affecting memory, attention, and
concentration.
Prolonged stress results in constant worrying, forgetfulness, lack of
organization, and pessimism, impacting overall performance and
productivity.
3. The relationship between stress and performance follows an inverted-U curve, where
performance initially increases with stress but declines beyond a certain point.
Stress negatively affects academic and workplace performance, leading to burnout,
decreased organizational commitment, and higher turnover.
It affects focus, communication patterns, and interpersonal relationships at work.
Stress also influences relationships outside of work, causing irritability, communication
issues, and inadequate coping mechanisms.
Unhealthy lifestyle habits like lack of exercise, poor sleep, and substance abuse are
common responses to stress, further exacerbating health issues and relationship
problems.
Everyday stressors like traffic, pollution, and technology overload contribute to chronic
stress if not effectively managed, perpetuating a cycle of health problems and strained
relationships.
4. Sameer's parents had high hopes for him to become an IAS officer.
Sameer loved playing guitar, but he felt pressured to pursue civil
services.
Despite his efforts, Sameer suffered from fatigue, sleeplessness, and
loss of appetite.
Doctors couldn't find physical reasons for Sameer's symptoms.
Stress from parental expectations and inner conflict affected
Sameer's health.
Tiska was thrilled about her promotion but faced increased workload.
Her boss constantly criticized her work, leading to irritability and
anger.
Tiska's relationships suffered due to her behavior changes.
5. She developed breathing problems and high blood pressure.
Work pressure and criticism harmed Tiska's physical and mental health.
Stress affects individuals differently, some experiencing physical symptoms,
others psychological.
Children react differently to stress; some fall ill before exams, others don't.
Stress can impact health, performance, and relationships.
Understanding stress effects on health, performance, and relationships is
important.
Stress in one area can affect other aspects of life, like health, performance,
and relationships
7. Impact on Physical Health: Stress affects physical health in various ways, leading to
illnesses such as cardiovascular disorders, aches and pains, ulcers, hypertension,
diabetes, asthma, hyperthyroidism, and even cancer.
Weakening Immune System: Stress weakens the immune system, making individuals
more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
Accelerated Aging: Long-term stress diverts energy from the immune system to stress-
reactive systems, accelerating aging processes.
Cardiovascular Disorders: Stress triggers physiological changes like increased pulse rate
and blood pressure, putting strain on the heart and potentially leading to cardiovascular
disorders.
Hypertension: Prolonged stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing
prolonged hypertension, which can lead to cardiovascular disorders, stroke, and kidney-
related issues.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Stress can lead to stomach upsets, ulcers, irritable bowel
syndrome, and inflammatory bowel diseases due to excess production of hydrochloric
acid and pepsin.
8. Respiratory Problems: Stress is a factor in developing asthma due to bronchial airway blockages
caused by mucus, inflammation, or spasms.
Cancer Risk: Prolonged stress increases the risk of developing cancer.
Hyperthyroidism: Stress negatively affects thyroid function, leading to hyperthyroidism and
disrupting metabolism and physiological functions.
Anxiety and Depression: Stress triggers the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and
adrenaline, leading to anxiety and depression over time.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Extreme stress can lead to PTSD, characterized by
flashbacks and uncontrollable thoughts about traumatic events.
Unhealthy Coping Behaviors: Stress can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors such as substance
abuse, addiction, and poor lifestyle choices like lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits.
Overall Impact on Health: Stress has negative effects on both physical and mental health, as
well as lifestyle and behavior, ultimately affecting overall health negatively.
9.
10. 4.3 EFFECT OF STRESS
ON PERFORMANCE AND
PRODUCTIVITY
11. Introduction to Stress and Performance:
Stress affects cognitive functioning, crucial for performance.
Long-term stress may lead to cognitive decline and dementia.
Stress impacts memory, attention, decision making, and more.
Executive functioning, such as planning and problem solving, is
affected by stress.
Stress causes negative mood, fatigue, and affects attention.
12. Relationship between Stress and Performance:
• Inverted-U hypothesis: Stress increases performance to
a point, then declines.
• Stress affects performance in academics, workplace, etc.
Impact of Stress on Students:
• Stress leads to cognitive decline, affecting attention and
memory.
• Examination stress can impair recall and performance.
• Various stressors from parents, teachers, competition,
etc., further impact students.
13. Impact of Stress on Workplace:
Prolonged stress leads to affective exhaustion, decreased
commitment, and turnover.
Decreased performance, job dissatisfaction, and
absenteeism are related to stress.
Stress affects time management, punctuality, and
completion of tasks.
Lack of focus due to stress can cause accidents and
reduce productivity.
Stress hampers teamwork, communication, and may lead
to groupthink.
Technostress, caused by inability to cope with
technology, affects performance.
Burnout, a result of unmanaged stress, leads to
exhaustion, health problems, and decreased efficiency.
16. mpact of Stress on Relationships:Individuals are interconnected and
rely on each other for support and activities.
Stress affects an individual's relationships by causing irritability,
anger, withdrawal, or less affection towards significant others.
Prolonged stress depletes coping resources, making individuals less
patient with others.
Inadequate coping strategies, such as substance use, can harm
relationships over time.
Stress often leads to interpersonal conflicts, affecting decision-
making and problem-solving abilities, further straining relationships.
17. Sensitivity to remarks increases under stress, potentially
causing misunderstandings and relationship problems.
Communication may suffer, with individuals using harsh
language, impacting relationships negatively.
Work-related stress can spill over into personal life,
affecting relationships.
Unaddressed stress may hinder support from significant
others, leading to a cycle of stress.
Stress is contagious between partners, leading to mutual
stress experiences.
18. Indirect Effects of Stress:
• Stress may lead to an unhealthy lifestyle, including lack
of exercise, inadequate sleep, poor diet, and substance
use, impacting health and relationships.
Day-to-Day Stressors:
• Everyday stressors like traffic, pollution, fast-paced
lifestyles, and overuse of technology accumulate stress,
affecting health and relationships negatively.
Vicious Cycle:
• Stress negatively impacts relationships, which, in turn,
can cause further stress in individuals, creating a cycle of
strain.
