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In our last
newsletter, mention was made of the effects of stress. For those of you
who received it we also ran a story about stress and the fight or flight
response in our November eNewsletter, (Physiology
at Work, Nov '09). It was pointed out, by a female staff member at
ProfiTune, that recent research has shown that women actually have a
different biological response to stress that buffers the fight or flight
effects of adrenaline.
According to research through UCLA, women have a 'tend or befriend'
response that is driven primarily by oxytocin, which is a hormone that
is present in both men and women. However, testosterone - which men
produce in high levels when they're under stress - seems to reduce the
effects of oxytocin. Whereas estrogen, which is usually present at
significantly higher levels in women, seems to greatly enhance it.
(Taylor, S. E., Klein, L.C., Female Responses to Stress: Tend and
Befriend, Not Fight or Flight, 2000)
This ancient survival method meant that while the men of the tribe were
fighting off the sabre-toothed tiger, the women would have gathered the
children together and worked as a group to ensure the safety of all.
It is proposed that this hormonal reaction to stress, leads women to
seek affiliative contact with other females. If these relationships are
positive and reciprocal then the effects of stress are greatly
diminished. If the attempts at creating supportive bonding are negative
or rejected then the effects of stress are further increased.
"When she actually engages in this tending or befriending, studies
suggest that more oxytocin is released, which further counters stress
and produces a calming effect." says Dr Laura Klein Phd, one of the
founding researchers. The important point from a business sense is that
work relationships that provide social support appear to improve health.
A 2008 study by Rachael Morrison from the Business Faculty of New
Zealand's AUT University investigated gender differences in the
perceived benefits of workplace friendships, and the relationship
between friendship factors and organizational outcomes. Four hundred and
forty-five respondents from predominantly Western countries including
New Zealand, Australia and America completed an Internet based
questionnaire which asked them to describe the benefits received from
workplace friendships, and which measured these workplace friendships
and organizational variables.
Friendship prevalence and opportunities were more strongly correlated
with job satisfaction for men. Women were significantly more likely than
men to describe the benefits of workplace friendship in terms of social
and emotional support in times of stress, while men focused mainly on
the benefits friends provided them in their career or in functional
aspects of 'getting the job done'.
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Some of the 50-odd symptoms of stress as listed by
www.stress.org include;
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Reduced work
efficiency or productivity
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Difficulty
concentrating and making decisions
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Trouble
learning new information
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Forgetfulness, disorganisation, confusion
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Feeling
overloaded or overwhelmed
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Lies or
excuses to cover up poor work
When you consider
this, what strategies could you implement to encourage nurturing
relationships in your workplace?
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Remember though,
that the quality of the relationship is key to this research. Over time,
the attitudes, thinking, spirits and approach to life of those who are
nearest to you can become attached to you and your life.
If problem friends are "glugging" up your life, you have three options:
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Choose to
continue the relationship
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Try to
change the conditions it produces or
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Separate
yourself from the annoyance and find new friends - there are plenty
of wonderful, supportive people out there!
Author John
Mason would not be the first person to make the following observation:
"My choice to change my closest friends was a turning point in my
life."
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