Zbihlejová L.
PhD., Assistant Professor, lecturer, Faculty of Management, University of Prešov
in Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia
Frankovský M.
PhD., Associate Professor, Vice-Dean for Science and Research, Faculty of
Management, University of Prešov in Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia
Birknerová Z.
PhD., Associate Professor, Head of Department of Managerial Psychology,
Faculty of Management, University of Prešov in Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia
METHODOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL
PHENOMENON: COPING STRATEGIES IN MANAGEMENT
Introduction. Work-related stress is currently considered the second biggest
problem of the working environment in the European Union, as every fourth EU citizen
becomes a victim of the work stress at least once in a working lifetime (ETUC, UNICE,
UEAPME, CEEP 2004). According to available research, 50% to 60% of absence from
work is associated with the work-related stress (European Agency for Safety and
Health at Work 2005). It represents a huge loss for the human psyche as well as an
impaired economic performance of a person.
In the context of managerial environment, it is possible to argue that stress
involves the process of transmitting a certain infection, while the manager's mood is
perceived as the "contagion". Research in this area focuses on studying how managers'
moods affect individuals as well as the emotional tone in a group (Johnson 2008; Sy,
Cote & Saavedra 2005). Behavior of managers, such as support, empowerment, and
high-quality relationship with their employees, can help prevent stress while improving
stress management and emotional well-being for employees (Schaufeli & Enzmann
1998). Stress among managers and employees can be affected by the workplace
relationships with colleagues, employees and supervisors. Selye (1974) argues that
good relationships between the members of any group are a key determinant for the
health of individuals as well as the entire organization.
According to Pearlin and Schooler (1978), there are certain psychosocial
resources which represent personal and social characteristics capable of preventing or
mitigating the development of the stress process and its outcome. The authors define
coping as any reaction to external life stimuli that serves to prevent, avoid, or control
emotional effort. They further state that social status or gender can put a structure to
the access to the psychosocial resources.
Available studies focus primarily on the measurement of stress from an
intrapersonal point of view and in relation to the perception of stressors by individuals
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