Group Leader
Stress occurs at the interface between mind and body and involves the release of various stress hormones in response to psychological strain. Thereby, acute stress leads to short-term changes in perception and behavior. Prolonged exposure in the form of chronic stress has harmful health consequences with a wide range of mental and somatic symptoms. Work holds a high potential for chronic stress since it makes up a large part of life and forms the basis of economic security. While digitized work environments offer novel possibilities for stress-appropriate and stress-reducing work design, they also carry the risk of additional psychological strain.
The research group investigates fundamental mechanisms of stress development, effects, and chronification based on laboratory experimental and applied research, from the psychobiological level to simulated and real work environment. The findings are used to inform design decisions that promote employee health and well-being.
The group encompasses three main research areas:
Experimental Psychophysiology
This area examines stress as a psychobiological phenomenon: Central nervous processes lead to the release of stress hormones in the body, triggering numerous neurocognitive, affective, metabolic, and immunological changes that have short and long-term effects. These processes are analyzed through controlled stress induction and measurement of central nervous and peripheral physiological indicators in laboratory experiments. One main focus lies on effects of endogenous stress hormones on cognitive-emotional processes, their significance for meeting work demands, and possible implications for work design. Another focus is researching interindividual factors and causal mechanisms that lead to chronic stress and health risks.
Human-Machine-Interaction
The advent of digitalization is leading to significant changes in the working world. Digitized work environments are characterized by high information density, virtual and augmented reality techniques, and increasing use of self-learning and autonomous systems. This complexity requires developing criteria for human-centered design of intelligent support systems that adapt to people's mental abilities and needs. Related research is partly conducted in close cooperation with industry and carried out in the context of application-oriented third-party funded projects.
Junior Research Group Occupational Stress
Occupational stress often manifests over the long term and varies across organizational levels, shaped by the interaction of multiple stressors within a complex network. Given its prevalence and its serious impact on both health and productivity, this issue continues to receive increasing attention.
The junior research group "Occupational Stress" consequently investigates workplace hazards, mental stress at work, and the impact of modern work modes, such as interactive work and algorithmic management, on humans. The group focusses on the intersection of theory and practice by scrutinizing and refining current knowledge, aiming to test whether theoretical insights remain valid in practical work settings. A key goal is to gain a deeper understanding of how organizational, occupational, and individual factors affect employees at a more detailed level than the current one. This includes advancing occupational health and safety risk assessments, leveraging advanced methods like machine learning to enhance both theory and practice, and conducting and evaluating interventions aimed at improving employee well-being.
The research encompasses a range of real-world work environments, including industry, culture, and logistics. By combining fieldwork with quantitative, qualitative and experimental approaches, the researchers aim to integrate theoretical insights with practical applications more effectively.