werkingstress

Werkingsstress, sometimes written as werking stress, is a term used in occupational psychology and Dutch-language literature to describe the stress associated with functioning under demanding work conditions. It refers to the psychological and physiological responses that arise when job demands exceed an individual's coping resources, potentially affecting work performance and well-being.

The concept aligns with established frameworks such as the job demands–resources model and transactional models of stress. It emphasizes the interaction between job demands (workload, time pressure, complexity, change) and resources (control, social support, feedback) rather than a fixed level of stress.

Common sources include high workload, tight deadlines, role ambiguity, and poor support, while protective factors include autonomy, clear feedback, and supervisory support. Symptoms range from cognitive fatigue and concentration problems to irritability, sleep disturbance, physical tension, and performance declines.

Measurement typically relies on self-report questionnaires and interviews, complemented by indicators such as absenteeism, turnover, health records, and performance metrics. Some researchers also employ physiological markers like heart-rate variability or cortisol to capture acute responses.

Management focuses on reducing demands or increasing resources: job redesign, clearer roles, flexible scheduling, recovery time, stress-management training, and access to employee assistance programs. Critics note that the term is not standardized and may overlap with broader concepts of occupational stress.

Usage varies by language and field; in English-language literature the phenomenon is usually described as work-related stress or job strain rather than "werkingsstress."