When feeling worn down, stressed, and burned out starts to cloud the mind, it’s time to pinpoint the cause and tackle it head-on. Millions of articles talk about how stress affects a person’s psychological health and wellbeing. But what about the cause of stress? Does a person’s social environment play a role? It absolutely does, and the term is called social stress. Below we discuss social stress, what it is, what it isn’t, and how to tackle this feeling which often plays a significant role in the workplace, at home, and within relationships.
Social Stress vs. Social Anxiety
What is social stress? Social stress is often defined as behaviors and situations, social in nature, that are related to physical and psychological strain. This may include stress from friendship groups, hostile work environments, academic clubs, or stressful family situations. On the other hand, social anxiety is where everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment because a person fears being scrutinized or judged negatively by others. In social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance that can disrupt a person’s life (Mayo Clinic).
Social stress causes strain in relationships, whereas social anxiety can severely affect daily routines and activities – leading to isolation. Social stress and social anxiety are emotional responses, but social stress is typically caused by an external trigger. Conversely, social anxiety is characterized by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even without a stressor. Though not as severe as social anxiety, social stress can threaten one’s relationships, esteem, or sense of belonging between two people, a group, or a larger social context. For example, this feeling can stem from complicated social interactions, such as a tumultuous marital or family relationship (Juth, V. & Dickerson, S., 2013).
Social Stress at Work
In the workplace, examples of social stressors often include:
- verbal aggression in the workplace
- co-worker conflict
- negative group environments
- organizational politics
- unfair treatment (Scontrino-Powell)
Social stress can also emerge during performance situations, where co-workers or managers can be judgmental or critical, or in settings where one feels rejected, ostracized, or ignored (Juth, V. & Dickerson, S.). Workplace social stressors can lead to outcomes that are in direct opposition to positive organizational behaviors and consequences. This happens because social stressors deplete a person’s coping resources or ability to deal with strain. It can weaken their resilience. Research shows that social stressors can lead to:
- decreased job satisfaction
- feelings of failure
- increased turnover
- loss of productivity
- reduced altruism and teamwork (Scontrino-Powell)
Ways to Tackle Social Stress Head-On
Looking for effective ways to identify and reduce social stress and the negative outcomes associated with it? Below we list ways to combat social stress at work and home.
The Workplace
- Managers can help establish standards against co-worker conflict and aggression. Remember that not all types of conflict are bad, but social conflict is generally negative and will lead to social stress. Avoid social conflict by ensuring that debates are centered on tasks, not people (Scontrino and Powell).
- Forbes suggests that managers can also mediate disputes to channel the conflict into a positive outcome. Ensure both parties feel understood, heard, and valued. Help them come out of it with aligned expectations.
- According to Forbes, another potential source of social stress can come from divisive conversation topics. In today’s hyper-sensitive political climate, discussing controversial political issues can cause anger, resentment, and unnecessary stress. When it comes to conversations with co-workers, steer clear of sensitive topics in the interest of preserving relationships and a peaceful work environment.
The World Outside of Work
According to Verywellmind, practicing assertive communication can strengthen relationships by reducing stress from conflict and providing social support when facing difficult times. Understanding this form of communication can also help individuals handle complicated family, friends, and co-workers more easily, reducing drama and social stress. Ultimately, assertive communication empowers individuals to draw necessary boundaries. For example, when approaching someone about a behavior that needs changing, stick to factual descriptions of what the person has done, rather than using negative labels or words that convey judgments. For instance:
Situation: Your friend, who habitually runs late, has shown up 20 minutes late for a lunch date.
Inappropriate response: “Now, lunch is ruined.”
Assertive communication: “Now, I have less time to spend at lunch because I still need to be back to work by 1:00.”
Another way to help deal with social stress is to see how well a person reacts to the stress around them or within their environment. Self-evaluations can play a vital role in this process. Self-evaluations often measure areas such as self-efficacy, self-awareness, and social engagement style. These can easily be measured using assessment tools. For example, our science-based Cognitive Orientation & Social-Emotional Competencies assessment (COSEC) can help individuals discover the potential for greater personal and professional success by showing people not only who they are – but how and why. It helps reduce social stress by helping people:
- Gain insight into personality traits and aptitude
- Understand social compatibility
- Ease relationship tensions and conflict
- Help teams, from workplace teams and academic clubs to families and friend groups, work together more effectively
- Foster communication and collaboration
- Identify stressors and mitigate them
Can all forms of stressful environments and situations such as deadlines, group politics, and dinners with difficult in-laws be eliminated? Unfortunately, no. But types of stress, such as social stress, can be identified and tackled head-on.
