Perceived Organizational Characteristics and Personality Measures as Predictors of Stress/Strain in the Work Place

Abstract

The relationship between perceived organizational variables (sources of role stress and job characteristics), personality variables (manifest needs, type A personality and self-esteem) and physiological and attitudinal measures of stress were examined. Sixty-two employees from a manufacturing firm provided data on a questionnaire and agreed to have the physiological measurements taken. Correlational data indicated that the job characteristics were generally systematically related to diastolic blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the incremental variance accountedfor by certain personal characteristics, the personality variables and the organizational variables. Personality factors as a group accounted for significant variance in manifest anxiety. A number of organizational factors and personality variables accountedfor significant variance in each of the dependent measures.