Is stress contagious?

In the workplace, the quality of the work environment can depend heavily on the manager. If the person in charge has just had a bad day, their unpleasant facial expressions or behavior can spread stress, according to Psychology Today (USA).

Stress can be contagious from one person to another.

Psychologists call this "emotional contagion." We often become sensitive to the emotions and behaviors of those close to us. If someone is happy, you may also feel comfortable around them. Conversely, if someone is stressed, it will affect the stress levels of those around them.

In the workplace, this contagious stress can affect everyone's mood and reduce productivity. Generally speaking, most of us prefer working with people who don't cause us annoyance or stress.

Because of these effects, leaders in organizations need to be particularly aware of their stress levels, thoughts, and behaviors. People pay more attention to leaders, and therefore, stress signals from them have a greater impact on their colleagues.

There are many reasons explaining the spread of stress. But from a neurological perspective, our brains contain neurons capable of mimicking the reactions of others. For example, if you see a smile from someone else, you will want to smile back. A frown from someone else can also trigger discomfort and stress within us.

Similarly, behaviors that reveal the stress of others can trigger or reinforce feelings of stress within ourselves. Even when we are clearly aware that the stress is the other person's problem, we still feel uncomfortable.

To prevent this spread, after contact with someone exhibiting stressful behavior, experts recommend seeking solitude and spending some time alone to reduce stress. Additionally, being with loved ones, providing a sense of security and support, can also help alleviate the discomfort caused by stress contagion, according to Psychology Today.

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