Dual-response approach to work stress: An investigation of organisational stressors, individual moderators and wellbeing outcomes.

• Main Author: Walls, Frances Grace
• Language: en
• Published: University of Canterbury. Psychology 2012
• Subjects: Eustress; distress; role overload; person-job fit; self efficacy; work-family conflict; wellbeing
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/7014

This study demonstrates the complex place stress has in the workplace by investigating both positive (eustress) and negative (distress) stress responses. An international sample of 140 individuals was recruited from various industries and organisational levels and these individuals participated in a confidential online survey. A moderated mediation model was proposed in which organisational stressors (person-job fit and role overload) influenced employee affective wellbeing directly and indirectly through stress responses, moderated by individual factors (work-family conflict and self-efficacy). Person-job fit influenced eustress which had positive effects on employee affective wellbeing. Role overload influenced distress which negatively impacted affective wellbeing. Self-efficacy moderated these relationships, with high levels increasing stress responses both negative and positive. Work-family conflict moderated relationships by reducing the positive effect of eustress and increasing the negative effect of distress. The findings not only advance current knowledge but have implications for organisational stress management practices.