Stress: causes, consequences, and coping strategies.

Because of the negative effect stress has on employee health and productivity, ways to manage stress should be of particular concern to human resources managers. Recognizing this, authors Heather R. Sailer, territorial sales representative for American Medical Systems, a division of American Hospital Supply Corporation, John Schlacter, professor of marketing, and Mark Edwards, assistant professor of agriculture--the latter two at Arizona State University--created a model for applying stress-management strategies. Their model integrates seven categories of strategies--two of which are physical maintenance and outside assistance. The model shows at which stage of stress--before, during, or after the stressful event--each strategy can most effectively be used, and in which are of management--self-management, systems management, or organizational management--it is most appropriate.