re: Scientists Say It’s More Stressful to Be a Waiter Than a Neurosurgeon

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Now understand too, there is a high degree of sample self-selection in the neurosurgery vs waitress stress level equation. An individual unable to manage stress won't end up as neurosurgeon. Just won't happen. They will either realize the field is not for them, or they will be promptly weeded out.

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Very good point

Obviously sampling from a completely different group

Although I'm sure there are a few neurosurgeons out there that may have waited tables as an undergrad

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No question. So there's your comp sample.

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Sure. But I'd argue it's probably difficult to get a true sample.

They could have been stressed out more as a server but not because the job is more stressful. It could be about what was going on in their lives at the time. Could be a broke freshman undergrad struggling to just get through first semester of college. Less knowledge and experience can be a catalyst for work related stress.

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This is not surprising at all. Neurosurgeons usually don't have very packed schedules

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Not only that, but they usually put the customer out, whereas servers usually have to deal with some cheap asses.

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I love how the term "scientists" automatically lends more validity to any bullshite they may spew.

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Opinions of the OT >>> people who are scientifically trained to develop hypotheses, research, and carry out experiments

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Now understand too, there is a high degree of sample self-selection in the neurosurgery vs waitress stress level equation. An individual unable to manage stress won't end up as neurosurgeon. Just won't happen. They will either realize the field is not for them, or they will be promptly weeded out.

Very good point

Obviously sampling from a completely different group

Although I'm sure there are a few neurosurgeons out there that may have waited tables as an undergrad

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Agree with all of this. The only real argument I have for waiter/waitress over neurosurgeon is that they generally deal with idiots all day long. I would presume a neurosurgeon deals with much more intelligent people on a daily basis.

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Generally though, you'd find the practicing neurosurgeon far more adroit at handling stress (by whatever mechanism) than a waitress.

It's kind of like comparing Apollo Astronauts to panhandlers. The panhandlers would likely register far higher stress in daily activities than did the astronauts. Has little to do with job demand and a great deal to do with coping.

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FWIW the engineer I had mentioned earlier was big into yoa

Might have been the pressure of a pretty tough school curriculum that added to the stress also

One has control/freedom and one lives in fear.

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At that point they are pretty humbled and need help. They aren't going to act the arse to the person that is going to help them.

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You have obviously never treated a patient with a major head injury.

A waiter can screw up a table and get talked to like a dog with no tip. A neurosurgeon can screw up a surgery and make a vegetable out of the patient. You tell me which one is more stressful?

I'd like to point out that the headline is NOT an accurate reflection of what the study found.

It found that waiters are more stressed. Not that being a waiter is more stressful.

You may think same thing but no, it's not.

Something can be VERY stressful for person A but not stressful for person B.

Moreover, excellent preparation reduces stress. IT, a person who is well prepared is usually less stresses taking an exam than an unprepared person even though the task is the same.

Hence, measuring how stressed someone is while doing a thing is NOT a measure off that thing's innate level of stress.