Affective Job Insecurity

Abstract

Researchers who work on job insecurity (JI) have largely ignored the differences between cognitive job insecurity and affective job insecurity. In this study, we argue that it is conceptually important to study affective JI and cognitive JI as distinct constructs. Based on the conceptualization of stress and affective event theory, we propose that affective JI is an outcome of cognitive JI and that affective JI partially mediates the relationship between cognitive JI and employee outcomes. In two samples of working people, we found that affective JI partially explains the effect of cognitive JI on employees' job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and somatic well-being. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.