Work stress in the 21st century : a bibliometric scan of the first 2 decades of research in this millennium

Abstract

Work stress is one of the most researched areas in industrial-organizational psychology. Given its vastness and pervasive impact on individuals and organizations, researchers have tackled the concept by focusing on a number of themes, using a variety of methodologies and developing a number of theoretical frameworks. The current investigation takes stock of the state-ofaffairs of the field by conducting a scoping review and a science mapping technique to evaluate the published literature in the field over a 2-decade period. Our analysis suggests that the field is generally multifaceted but often pertaining to 1 of 2 blocks: those exploring the psychosocial aspects of work stress and those exploring the more cognitive/physiological elements of the process. More seriously, the 2 strands do not necessarily communicate easily together, leaving a void in developing more integrated and holistic frameworks. In addition, our analysis suggests that researchers are often working within the comfort of the more popular theories of the time without making more provocative questions that may in turn improve the standing of our conceptualization of the phenomenon.