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Chronic Stress and Workload

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Understanding and Cultivating Well-being for the Pediatrician

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Abstract

Stress is a complex phenomenon, perceived when demands exceed resources. Chronic stress may profoundly impair health and quality of life. Understanding and applying the physiologic mechanisms responsible for both stress and relaxation can allow pediatricians to enhance their health and well-being. Workload is an important potential source of stress. The experience of work demands is mediated by work resources, as conceptualized by the Demands-Resources model. Workload can be assessed by measuring its impact on the worker, using tools such as the NASA Task Load Index. Specific skills and experiences in work, such as compassion and meaning, are powerful mediators of the impact of work on physicians and are critically tied to patient care. In this chapter we also explore specific solutions to address stress and workload, and discuss system design to enhance physician and care team well-being.

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Dr. Emily Ruendinger.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Mariah A. Quinn & Lisa M. Grant

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  1. Mariah A. Quinn
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Correspondence to Mariah A. Quinn .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Sarah Webber

  2. General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Jessica Babal

  3. General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Megan A. Moreno

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Quinn, M.A., Grant, L.M. (2023). Chronic Stress and Workload. In: Webber, S., Babal, J., Moreno, M.A. (eds) Understanding and Cultivating Well-being for the Pediatrician. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10843-3_6

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