Psychological and psychophysiological responses to organisational and interpersonal stressors in the workplace and the workers' compensation experience

Based on a multifaceted model of occupational stress, the current study aimed to provide a comprehensive examination of the variables associated with the experience of workplace stress. Investigation was made into the personal and environmental factors that contribute to the development of psychological injury after exposure to either organisational stressors or interpersonal stressors. Additionally, psychological and psychophysiological measures were obtained to understand whether exposure to interpersonal stressors translates to a more severe experience than exposure to organisational stressors at the time of the event. Finally, an evaluation of the workers compensation process and return to work outcomes were made for individuals who had lodged a claim based on psychological injury after either a workplace conflict or exposure to organisational stressors. The results from the current study provided evidence to suggest that various personal and environmental contributors influence the nature of the work stressor that an individual is exposed. Furthermore, it appears that interpersonal stress translates to a more severe psychological experience than exposure to organisational stress. Lastly, there was evidence to suggest that the experience of worker's compensation process differs for individuals who lodged a claim after the development of a psychological injury as a result of interpersonal conflict from those who were faced with organisational stressors. Conclusions, limitations of the current research and directions for future research are discussed.