Abstract
Individual based strategies for coping with job stress was discussed. The topics considered included the coping process, coping with work stress, and stress management strategies. It was noted that blue collar workers have been underrepresented in coping research. Most studies have investigated white collar or professional workers. Studies directed at identifying coping strategies used in work settings and their effectiveness have shown that occupational stressors are resistant to individual coping strategies that address only stressors encountered at work. In some cases these strategies have increased the occurrence of stress symptoms. Personality traits appear to influence the type of coping strategy used. The most effective strategies appear to be preventive health promotional type activities that increase the distance between the worker and the stressor. Stress management strategies included biofeedback, muscle relaxation, meditation, and cognition focussed methods. Stress management techniques generally appear to be preventive in nature rather than being directed toward obvious stress related problems and are usually offered to management personnel and white collar workers rather than to blue collar workers. Stress among blue collar workers appears to a function of the characteristics of the individual worker, nonwork stressors, and certain aspects of the work environment, such as chemical and physical hazards. Merging health promotion and health protection efforts is suggested to be a viable way of managing stress among blue collar workers.
