The Relative Influence of Life Events and Hassles on Work-Related Injuries: Some Australian Evidence

Using data collected from over 1400 employees from 61 different workplaces, this study investigates the relative importance of stressful life events and daily hassles for the occurrence of injuries within the workplace. A multivariate model of the factors associated with injury occurrence is developed and estimated using probit regression techniques. The results provide strong support for the hypothesis that stress contributes to injuries in the workplace. More importantly, the observed relationship between stress and injuries is found to be far stronger for a measure of stress based on the frequency of daily hassles than it is for a measure based on the occurrence of stressful life events. The results are argued to have at least two implications for stress management interventions in the workplace: first, such interventions should be directed toward the management of extra-organizational stressors, not just stressors within the workplace; and second, intervention programs should give priority to improving the ability of employees to cope with and respond to stress.