Sales associates and managers from branches of two department stores were surveyed (n = 193) to determine to what extent tension exists and what source (or combination of sources) of social support is perceived to influence the interaction of life domains. Role theory was used to guide the study. Study variables included: tension, sources of social support (supervisors, family, coworkers), role stressors (role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload), and selected demographic characteristics. Results indicated that role conflict, role overload, number of children, and role ambiguity were significant predictors of tension. Social support from supervisors and coworkers was found to be significantly related to tension. Specifically, for employees experiencing low levels of tension, there were no differences in the level of social support from supervisors and coworkers; for those experiencing high levels of tension, there was significantly more coworker support than supervisor support. Support from familylfriends was not found to be significant in influencing tension for either of the two groups. No difference was identified between men and women as to sources of social support.
Abdel-Halim, A.A. (1978). Employee affective responses to organizational stress: Moderating effects of job characteristics. Personnel Psychology, 31(3), 561-579.
2.
Albrecht, T.L., & Adelman, M.B. (1984). Social support and life stress: New directions for communication research. Human Communication Research, 11, 3-32.
3.
Albrecht, T.L. & Adelman, M.B. (1987). Communicating social support: A theoretical perspective . In T. L. Albrecht & M. B. Adelman (Eds.), Communicating social support (pp. 18-38). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
4.
Bhagat, R.S., & Ford, D.L. (1990). Work and Non-Work Issues in the Management of Occupational Careers in the 1990s. In J. C. Quick, R. E. Hess, J. D. Hermalin, & J. D. Quick (Eds.), Career stress in changing times (pp. 99-112). New York: Haworth Press.
5.
Blau., G. (1981). An empirical investigation of job stress, social support, service length, and job strain. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 27, 279-302.
6.
Caplan, G. (1974). Support systems and community mental health. New York: Behavioral Publications.
7.
Caplan, R.D., Cobb. S., French, J.R.P., Van Harrison, R., & Pinneau, S.R. (1980). Job demands and worker health. Ann Arbor MI: Institute or Social Research.
8.
Cohen, M.S., & Schwartz, A.R. (1980). U.S. labor turnover : Analysis of a new measure. Monthly Labor Review, 103(11), 9-13.
9.
Cooper, C.L. (1981). Social support at work and stress management. Small Group Behavior, 12(3), 285-297.
10.
Cooper, C.L., & Payne, R. (1978). Stress at workNew York: John Wiley.
11.
Cooper, C.L., & Payne, R. (1980). Current concerns in occupational stress. New York: John Wiley.
12.
Darden, W., Hampton, R., & Howell, R. (1989). Career versus organizational commitment: Antecedents and consequences of retail salespeoples' commitment. Journal of Retailing, 65(1), 80-106.
13.
Gable, M., Hollon, C.J., & Dangello, F. (1984). Predicting voluntary managerial trainee turnover in a large retailing organization from information on an employment application blank. Journal of Retailing, 60(4), 43-63.
14.
Ganster, D.C., Fusilier, M.R., & Mayes, B.T. (1986). Role of social support in the experience of stress at work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 102-110.
15.
Golembiewski, R.T., & Munzenrider, R.F. (1981). Efficacy of three versions of one bum-out measure. Journal of Health and Human Resources Administration, 4, 374-392.
16.
Good, L.K., Sisler, G.F., & Gentry, J.W. (1988). Antecedents of turnover intentions among retail management personnel. Journal of Retailing, 64(3), 295-314.
17.
Goolsby, J.R. (1992). A theory of role stress in boundary spanning positions of marketing organizations. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 20(2), 155-164.
18.
Gutek, G.A., Searle, S., & Klepa, L. (1991). Rational versus gender role explanations for work-family conflict. Journal of Applied Psychology, 76(4), 560-568.
19.
Hair, J.F., Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L., and Black, W.C. (1992). Multivariate data analysis (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing .
20.
Hamner, W.C. & Tosi, H.W. (1974). Relationship of role conflict and role ambiguity to job involvement measures. Journal of Applied Psychology , 59, 497-499.
21.
House, R.J., & Rizzo, J.R., (1972). Role conflict and ambiguity as critical variables in a model of organizational behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 7467-505.
Iwanicki, E.F., & Schwab, R.L. (1981). A cross validation study of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 41, 1167-1174.
24.
Jackson, S.E., Schwab, R.L., & Schuler, R.S. (1986). Toward an understanding of the burnout phenomenon . Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 630-640.
25.
Jayaratne, S., & Chess, W.A. (1984). The effects of emotional support on perceived job stress and strain. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science , 20, 141-153.
26.
Kahn, R.L., Wolfe, D.M., Quinn, R.P., Snoek, J.D., & Rosenthal, R.A. ( 1964). Organizational stress . New York: John Wiley.
27.
Keaveney, S.M. (1992). An empirical investigation of dysfunctional organizational turnover among chain and non-chain retail store buyers. Journal of Retailing, 68(20), 145-173.
28.
LaRocco, J.M., House, J.S., & French, J.R.P. (1980). Social support, occupational stress, and health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 21, 202-218.
29.
LaRocco, J.M., & Jones, A.P. (1978). Coworker and leader support as moderators of stress-strain relationships in work situations. Journal of Applied Psychology , 63, 629-634.
30.
Lee, M. (1993, August 30). Older consumer becomes target of small firms. Wall Street Journal, pp. B1-B2.
31.
Lusch, R.F. and Serpkenci, R.R. (1990). Personal differences, job tension, job outcomes, and store performance: A study of retail store managers. Journal of Marketing, 54(1), 85-101.
32.
Maslach, C. & Jackson, S.E. (1981). The measurement of experienced burnout. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 2, 99-113.
33.
McLean, A.A. (1985). Work stress. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
34.
Miles, R.H. (1976). A comparison of the relative impacts of role perceptions of ambiguity and conflict by role. Academy of Management Journal , 19, 25-35.
35.
Miller, K.I., Ellis, B.H., Zook, E.G., & Lyles, J.S. (1990). An integrated model of communication, stress, and burnout in the workplace. Communication Research, 17(3), 300-326.
36.
Pines, A. & Kafry, D. (1978). Occupational tedium in social services. Social Work, 23, 499-507.
37.
Ray, E.B. (1987). Supportive relationships and occupational stress in the workplace. In T. Albrecht, & M. B. Adelman (Eds.), Communicating social support (pp. 172-191), Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
38.
Ray, E.B., & Miller, K.I. (1991). The influence of communication structure and social support on job stress and burnout. Management Communication Quarterly, 4(4), 506-527.
39.
Ray, E.B. & Miller, K.I. (1992). Social support, home-work stress, and burnout: Who can help?. Working paper.
40.
Rizzo, J.R., House, R.J., & Lirtzman, S.I. (1970). Role conflict and ambiguity in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly , 15(June), 598-610.
41.
Seers, A., McGee, G.W., Serey, T.T., & Graen, G.B. (1983). The interaction of job stress and social support: A strong inference investigation. Academy of Management Journal , 26, 273-284.
42.
Selbert, R. (1991). Retailing's five most important trends. Retailing Issues Letter, 3(2), 1-4.
43.
Shinn, M., Rosario, M., Morch, H., & Chestnut, D.E. (1984). Coping with job stress and burnout in the human services. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 864-876.
44.
Toffler, A. (1980). The Third Wave. New York: Bantam Books.
