THE IMPACT OF WORK-RELATED STRESS: SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN HEALTHCARE

Resumo

Occupational stress represents a growing challenge for workers and organizations, with significant effects on health, professional performance, and institutional costs. This article presents a literature review based on classical authors and recent national and international studies regarding the main causes, impacts, and strategies for preventing and coping with work-related stress. It adopts an applied approach with emphasis on the healthcare sector, due to the high exposure of professionals to intense demands, continuous contact with human suffering, and recurring structural limitations. As empirical support, a structured questionnaire was applied to nursing professionals working in hospital institutions, allowing a comparison between the findings from the literature and the local reality. The results indicated that 60% of the participants identified work overload as the main stressor, followed by lack of professional recognition (40%). Regarding the impacts, 80% reported symptoms of physical and emotional exhaustion, while 60% stated that stress negatively affects productivity. The most relevant strategies involved institutional psychological support (100%), redistribution of tasks and regular breaks (80%), and individual self-care practices (60%). It is concluded that the prevention of occupational stress requires integrated actions between individuals and organizations, with humanized management, structured psychological support, and professional recognition being strategic elements for promoting healthier, more productive, and sustainable work environments.