Andrew Guppy

Occupational Stress, Social Support, Job Control, and Psychological Well-Being

The effects of social support, job control, participative decision making practices, and locus of control upon the relationship between occupational stress and psychological well-being have been well discussed and researched. In order to synthesize these areas of research, a 1-month follow-up study of 244 accountants was conducted. The results indicated complex interactions between stressors, locus of control, and social support or job autonomy in predicting psychological well-being, controlling for initial measures of well-being. These interactions reveal that an internal locus of control, and social support/job autonomy synergistically buffer the effects of stressors upon well-being.

Stressors, locus of control, and social support as consequences of affective psychological well-being.

Tests of the influence of affective psychological well-being on stressors, locus of control, and social support in a 1-month follow-up study of 210 male and 34 female British accountants is reported. There was a marginally significant association between the level of psychological symptoms and subsequent reports of intensity of quantitative workload stressors. A significant interaction between psychological symptoms and a measure of depression-enthusiasm was found to predict subsequent locus of control. The results indicate a differential pattern of associations between aspects of affective well-being and subsequent reports of social support. The results also indicate that initially more frequent stressors are associated with subsequently less intense stressors of the same type. The findings highlight the dynamic and reciprocal nature of the occupational stress process.

Job satisfaction and occupational stress in UK general hospital nursing staff

Abstract This study investigated factors associated with the perceptions of stress reported by nurses in a general hospital environment in the UK. The levels and sources of stress experienced by nursing staff were examined in relation to the type of ward or department, and nursing grade. The association between reported stress and job satisfaction was also examined. By means of a self-completion questionnaire survey, data were collected from 234 nurses from 24 wards in a single general hospital. The Brayfield and Rothe job satisfaction index was used to provide data for analysis. Factor analysis, analysis of variance, and Pearson product moment correlation procedures were performed on these data. The factor analysis identified two main factors concerned with sources of stress: interpersonal relations and resource problems, and dealing with death. Although there were no differences found across wards, the analyses of variance revealed that reported stress varied over different nursing grades. It was also f...

A longitudinal study exploring the relationships between occupational stressors, non-work stressors, and work performance

Abstract There is a lack of intricate research into the relationships between work performance and other variables. This study examined the causal relationship between work, non-work stressors, and work performance. Using longitudinal multi-group data from three groups—university staff, trainee nurses, and part-time employees (overall N=244)—structural equation modelling was employed to explore one-way and reverse competing models. The results produced a good fitting model with one-way causal paths from work-related and non-work stressors (time 1) to job performance (time 2). Nested model comparison analysis provided further evidence to support this best fitting model, emphasizing the strong influence that non-work factors have within the workplace. This study has important implications for theory, methodology and statistical analysis, and practice in the field of work-related stressors and performance.

Control, information-seeking preferences, occupational stressors and psychological well-being

This study reports a test of the minimax and blunting hypotheses (Miller, 1979a, 1980a, b, 1981). A sample of 221 academic and support staff at a British university were administered a stressor inventory, a measure of psychological well-being, a measure of work-related locus of control and a modified version of the Miller Behavioral Style Scale (1987), which measures information-seeking preferences. Using moderated multiple regression analysis, no support was gained for either hypothesis. However, the results did support a main effects model of perceived control and psychological well-being.

The influences of gender and grade on perceived work stress and job satisfaction in white collar employees

Abstract A self-completion questionnaire survey was carried out, resulting in a sample of 675 white collar public sector employees. The survey examined the frequency of occurrence of work-based stressors and perceived control, and included a general measure of job satisfaction. The results revealed that higher levels of job satisfaction were reported by employees in higher grades. It was also observed that higher grades perceived more control within their working environment. No gender differenccs were found concerning reported stress problems, although significant differences were observed across grades in relation to role differentiation. Multivariate analyses revealed that grade effects were largely accounted for by differences in perceived control. Perceived control, role-based and organizational stressors as well as gender were the strongest contributors in predicting reported job satisfaction.

Coping strategies and mental health in white collar public sector employees

Abstract A self-completion questionnaire survey of coping behaviours and associated perceptions amongst 675 white collar public sector employees is reported. In addition to identifying underlying dimensions of coping behaviour, the relationship between reported use of coping strategies and perceptions related to work stress, general mental well-being, and job satisfaction were explored. From the responses concerning frequency of use of various coping methods, five dimensions of coping strategy were identified: problem-focused, health and leisure-oriented, social support seeking, avoidant, and formal relaxation. It was found that use of avoidant coping methods was significantly associated with perceived problems with coping at work, with lower job satisfaction, and with poorer levels of general mental health. Higher reported use of problem-focused methods was significantly associated with fewer problems with coping at work, higher job satisfaction, and better levels of general mental health.

Coping strategies, dysfunctional attitudes and psychological well-being in white collar public sector employees

Abstract The findings of an interviewer-supervised, self-completion questionnaire survey involving a sample of 274 white collar public sector employees are reported. The survey examined the reported use of coping strategies and perceptions measured by a version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (Beck et al. 1991). Main and interaction effects involving coping strategies and dysfunctional attitudes were then used to predict psychological well-being measures (General Health Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory). The results suggested that the use of avoidance coping was associated with lower well-being, while the use of problem-oriented coping methods was associated with better mental health. Dysfunctional attitudes relating to vulnerability, impression management, need for approval and success-perfectionism were also found to be associated with the measures of mental well-being. It is suggested that such dysfunctional attitudes may reflect stable analogues of primary appraisal.

Stress, social support and psychological well-being in British accountants

Abstract This paper reports an exploratory study of stress, social support and psychological well-being in British chartered accountants, using data from 399 self-report questionnaires. The results suggest that the underlying structure of stress in British accountancy can be explained by three dimensions; quantitative overload stressors, professional/administrative interface stressors and nuisance stressors. The underlying structure of social support for the sample can be represented by three dimensions of help support, social dependability and esteem support. Intensity of quantitative overload stressors, intensity of professional/administrative interface stressors and all three dimensions of support were found to be related to psychological well-being in the sample. Differences between these variables, types of organization and organizational position were examined. The results are discussed with reference to stress management interventions for accountants. Possible generalizations to other professional ...

Assisting employees with drinking problems: Changes in mental health, job perceptions and work performance

Abstract A sample of 104 British transportation employees with alcohol-related problems were examined for changes in mental health and job perceptions before and after a company-based counselling programme. Data was mainly obtained by means of structured interviews. When clients were assessed at a 6-month follow-up, significant positive changes were found for the group as a whole in terms of context-free mental health, self- and supervisor ratings of work performance as well as measures of absenteeism. Small positive differences were observed for measures relating to perceived work demands. However, no significant differences were observed for the measures of job satisfaction and job commitment. The findings are discussed in relation to the expected client and organizational outcomes of workplace counselling interventions.