Eustress: A Key to Improving Job Satisfaction and Health Among Thai Managers Comparing US, Japanese, and Thai Companies Using SEM Analysis

Abstract

Eustress or positive stress is defined as stress which enables employees to perform better and increase their job satisfaction. This study confirms that eustress is a key factor in motivating employees to achieve high performance and enhanced job satisfaction. Not enough eustress lead to employee boredom and turnover. On the other hand, large amount of negative stress or distress significantly leads to physical and psychological illness. Exclusive stimulation or too much negative stress is likely to cause illness. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected for this research. Structural equation modeling techniques were used for statistical data analysis together with in-depth interview analysis of Thai managers reporting to US, Japanese, and Thai senior managements.

Keywords: Positive stress (Eustress), Negative stress (Distress), Job Satisfaction, Illness, Management styles

JEL Classification: M10