The moderating role of personality characteristics on the relationship between job insecurity and strain

Abstract

The experience of job insecurity has been linked to several different outcomes, such as negative attitudes towards work and the organization, turnover intention, as well as health complaints. However, since the strength of these effects have been found to vary across studies, it is vital to identify factors that could influence the relationships. The present study examines the moderating role of three personality characteristics (negative affectivity, positive affectivity, and external locus of control) on the relation between job insecurity and outcomes (mental health complaints, job dissatisfaction, and job-induced tension). Data from 400 nurses at a Swedish acute care hospital (response rate 71%; 91% women, aged 20–68 years) showed that both job insecurity and personality were related to strain. Also, the data indicated some buffering effect of personality. Despite the gender bias of the sample, the study provides additional support for the notion that job insecurity affects strain even after controlling for individual characteristics. The study also expands the literature on job insecurity by pointing out the influence of personality characteristics on the relationship between stressors and strain.

Keywords:

• Job insecurity
• job stress
• nurses
• personality characteristics
• mental well-being
• strain

Acknowledgments

The research reported here was financed by the Swedish Council for Work Life Research and the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, the Swedish National Institute for Working Life through the Joint Programme for Working Life Research in Europe (SALTSA), as well as Alecta.