Personal resources act as stress buffer at work

Possessing strong self-esteem and general self-efficacy can act as a buffer against the negative effects of excessive job demands, according to a recent study.

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Previous research has explored the theory that job-related resources can protect workers from the negative strain reactions of job demands, and this research extended the idea by focusing on the potentially protective effects of person-related resources. It found that four personality traits – namely self-esteem, locus of control, general self-efficacy and emotional stability – moderate the relationship between job demands (described as emotional job demands, work load and shift work) and psychological distress.

van Doorn RRA, Hulsheger UR (2013). “What makes employees resilient to job demands? The role of core self-evaluations in the relationship between job demands and strain reactions”. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, first published online 25 November.