| Summary: | Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology,
University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Arts. === The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a process model linking
stressful environmental change, perceived job insecurity and stress reactions, A
review of the literature revealed that stressful changes in the environment are
linked to individual stress reactions, Stress theory has also recognised that
appraisal of a stressful situation leads to stress reactions, Moreover, the literature
has identified job Insecurity as a form of appraisal in that it is an internal event
reflecting a transformation of beliefs about what 's happening in the organisation
and environment. Job insecurity in turn has been shown to result in various stress
reactions in individuals, Based on such research and theorising, a causal model
was developed and tested using structural equation modeling techniques, It was
assessed whether: stressful environmental change impacted upon stress reactions
and job insecurity; job insecurity impacted upon stress reactions; and whether Job
insecurity operated as a form of appraisal in mediating the relationship between
stressful environmental change and stress reactions, The Independent variable,
stressful environmental change, was specified as a common factor of the measured
variables, political change, social change and organisational change, The
proposed mediator variable, job insecurity, was specified as a common factor of the
measured variables perceived threat to total job multiplied by powerlessness, and
perceived threat to job features multiplied by powerlessness, The dependent
variable, stress reactions, was specified as a common factor of the measured
variables psychological distress, job dissatisfaction and reduced organisational
commitment. The model was tested empirically using a combined sample of 267
subjects from three organisations, Results indicated that all relationships In the
proposed model were confirmed, and that a reasonable fit was demonstrated
between the empirical data and the theoretical model. Stressful environmental
change was causally related to both stress reactions and Job insecurity, Job
Insecurity was causally related to stress reactions, and in addition operated as a
partial mediator between stressful environmental change and stress reacdons.
Conceptual and methodological reasons for the findings are discussed, as well as
some theoretical and practical implications, Limitations in the methodology are
identified and future considerations of research are suggested, === AC2017
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