The assumption that a longitudinal design reduces the size of the relationships between work stressors and strains was tested. A comparison of cross-sectional and longitudinal correlations suggested that temporal separation of stressors and strains reduced correlations between role ambiguity and primarily attitudinal strains. Cross-sectional correlations between role conflict and strains, as well as correlations involving health-related strains, were practically unaffected by switching to a longitudinal design. A theory-driven approach to the adoption of temporal separation of stressor and strain measures in organizational stress research is outlined.
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