Work-Relevant Values Strengthen the Stressor–Strain Relation in Elite Army Units

Abstract

We examined in this research whether possessing work-relevant values would lead to stronger relations between different types of stressors and outcomes. U.S. Army Rangers completed the Rokeach Value Survey (Rokeach, 1973) and measures assessing work overload, role clarity, and amount of sleep. Rangers also completed measures of job satisfaction, morale, and psychological distress (depression, somatization, and anxiety). Due to the nature of our sample, we concentrated on the instrumental values (ways individuals attain desired states) contained in the Rokeach Value Survey. A principal axis analysis of these values revealed factors reflecting achievement-related values and affiliation-related values. Moderated multiple regressions revealed that Rangers who scored higher on the achievement value evidenced a stronger relation between the following variables: role clarity and job satisfaction, morale, and somatization; work overload and job satisfaction and morale; and between amount of sleep and anxiety, depression, and somatization. Thus, the achievement value moderated eight stressor–strain relations. In contrast, scores on the affiliation value only strengthened the stressor–outcome relation on three occasions. Discussion of the results focuses on how work-relevant values might amplify the impact of work-relevant experiences.

Notes

1 The baseline assessment of the 75th Ranger Regiment included a large number of diverse measures. The measures used to test the hypotheses in this manuscript were drawn from this larger data set. Britt (2003) used the data from the same baseline assessment in a study testing a different hypothesis using largely different measures than this study. The only measure used in the Britt (2003) study that was also used in this research was role clarity.