Tööpinget

Tööpinget means work-related stress or work pressure in Estonian. It denotes the psychological and physiological response to job demands that exceed a person's coping resources. The term combines töö (work) and pinge (tension or stress). Tööpinget is studied as part of occupational health and safety and is relevant for workplaces across sectors.

Common causes include high workload and work pace, tight deadlines, low influence over tasks, unclear roles, insufficient social support, job insecurity, and organizational changes. The effects can be short-term, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritability, and reduced concentration, and long-term, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and elevated risk of cardiovascular problems. It can also contribute to increased absenteeism and reduced safety at work.

Assessment and research often use psychosocial models such as the demand-control-support model and the effort-reward imbalance framework. In practice, tools like COPSOQ or JCQ are used to measure workplace psychosocial risk factors. In Estonia, psychosocial risks fall under occupational safety and health regulation, obliging employers to assess and address work-related stress as part of a safe workplace.

Prevention strategies emphasize organizational measures: reasonable workload, clear job roles, adequate autonomy, supportive management, effective communication, and opportunities for participation in decision-making. Additional approaches include supervisor training, employee assistance programs, and stress management resources. Early identification and intervention can reduce adverse health outcomes and improve well-being and productivity.