Reading: A Solution for Stressed Managers?


Abstract views: 48 / PDF downloads: 71

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31039/plic.2023.8.173

Keywords:

stress management techniques, reading, manager stress, coping with stress, reading for stress relief

Abstract

Stress has become a natural consequence of modern lifestyle. Numerous studies indicate that stress levels among global populations are on the rise as people are more prone to getting overwhelmed by stress. Therefore, effective stress management techniques are becoming more crucial for modern societies. This study surveyed 150 respondents across different countries and regions who were divided into two groups: managers and non-managers. Results show that reading is among the top three preferred activities for relieving stress among the majority of respondents (i.e. 88% of managers and 90% of non-managers) as they believed reading was a wise investment of their time, regardless of which reading type they read.

References

American Psychological Association (n.d.). Stress in America 2022. Concerned for the future, beset by inflation. Retrieved December 14, 2023 from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/concerned-future-inflation

Bal, PM; Veltkamp, M (2013). How Does Fiction Reading Influence Empathy? An Experimental Investigation on the Role of Emotional Transportation. PLoS ONE, 8 (1), e55341. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055341

Bavishi, Avni; Slade, Martin D.; Levy, Becca R. (2016). A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity, 164, 44-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014

ciphr (n.d.). Workplace stress statistics in the UK. Retrieved December 14, 2023 from https://www.ciphr.com/workplace-stress-statistics/

Duffy, ME; Twenge, JM; Joiner, TE. (2019). Trends in Mood and Anxiety Symptoms and Suicide-Related Outcomes Among U.S. Undergraduates, 2007-2018: Evidence From Two National Surveys. J Adolesc Health, 65 (5), 590-598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.04.033

Epel, Elissa S.; Crosswell, Alexandra D.; Mayer, Stefanie E.; Prather, Aric A.; Slavich, George M.; Puterman, Eli; Mendes, Wendy Berry (2018). More than a feeling: A unified view of stress measurement for population science. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 49, 146-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.03.001

Future Forum (2022, October). Executives feel the strain of leading in the ‘new normal. https://futureforum.com/research/pulse-report-fall-2022-executives-feel-strain-leading-in-new-normal/

Gallup (2023, June 20). Gallup Global Emotions Report. https://www.gallup.com/analytics/507719/gallup%202023%20global%20emotions%20report.aspx

Jin, Putai (1992). Efficacy of Tai Chi, brisk walking, meditation, and reading in reducing mental and emotional stress. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 36 (4), 361-370

Koolhaas, J.M.; Bartolomucci, A.; Buwalda, B.; de Boer, S.F.; Flugge, G.; Korte, S.M.; Meerlo, P.; Murison, R.; Olivier, B.; Palanza, P.; Richter-Levin, G.; Sgoifo, A.; Steimer, T.; Stiedl, O.; van Dijk, G.; Wohr, M.; Fuchs, E. (2011). Stress revisited: a critical evaluation of the stress concept. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 35 (5), 1291–1301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.02.003

Levine, SL; Cherrier, S; Holding, AC; Koestner, R. (2022). For the love of reading: Recreational reading reduces psychological distress in college students and autonomous motivation is the key. J Am Coll Health, 70(1), 158-164. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1728280

Mansourati, Jessica (2019, May 30). Want to reduce your stress levels by 68% in 6 minutes? Read a book. https://medium.com/@jessicamansourati/want-to-reduce-stress-levels-by-68-in-6-minutes-read-a-book-17ade265c65d

Microsoft (2022, September 22). Microsoft Work Trend Index Special Report. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/hybrid-work-is-just-work

Mintzberg, Henry (1989). Mintzberg on management: inside our strange world of organizations. New York : London, Free Press.

Mintzberg, Henry (1973). The Nature of Managerial Work. New York: Harper & Row.

Moyer, Jessica E. (2007). Learning from leisure reading. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 46(4), 66-79. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.46n4.66

Rizzolo, Denise; Zipp, Genevieve; Simpkins, Susan; Stiskal, Doreen (2009). Stress Management Strategies For Students: The Immediate Effects Of Yoga, Humor, And Reading On Stress. Journal of College Teaching and Learning, 6 (8), 79-88. https://doi.org/10.19030/tlc.v6i8.1117.

Vasquez, Jessica M. (2005). Ethnic identity and Chicano literature: How ethnicity affects reading and reading affects ethnic consciousness. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 28(5), 903-924. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870500158927

World Health Organization (2023, February 21). Stress. Question and answers. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/stress/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3MKm796FgwMVKZODBx3bsgE-EAAYASAAEgLH_PD_BwE

Downloads

Published

2023-12-19

How to Cite

Schabasser, C. . (2023). Reading: A Solution for Stressed Managers?. Proceedings of London International Conferences, (8), 89–105. https://doi.org/10.31039/plic.2023.8.173