Publication Date
Spring 2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Sharon Glazer
Subject Areas
Psychology, General
Abstract
Two studies examining the relationship between job-specific stressors and strains versus the relationship between generic stressors with strain, as well as the moderating role of social support (from coworkers and administrators), are presented. Eighteen primary school teachers from a private Jewish day school (Study 1) and 242 teachers from an Arizona school district (Study 2) completed self-administered surveys. Results indicated that job-specific (vs. generic) stressors had a stronger positive relationship with strains, but social support was a better moderator for the relationship between generic stressors and strain. As hypothesized, administrator support had a reverse-buffering effect on the stressor-strain relationship in Study 2. Coworker support buffered the stressor-strain relationship in Study 2, but had a reverse-buffering effect in Study 1. Social support moderated the generic stressor-strain relationship, but did not have a moderating effect on the job-specific stressor and strain relationship. These results suggest that examining generic stressors is valuable for comparing across different occupations and organizations. However, studying job-specific stressors may still be important for getting at relevant factors influencing work behaviors in a given organizational context.
Recommended Citation
Mabe, Kaci Deeana, "Social Support as Moderator of Job-Specific or Generic Stressors with Strains" (2010). Master's Theses. 3774.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.bef5-83b4
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/3774