Cross-cultural differences in occupational stress among British and German managers

Abstract

A total of 255 managers (133 German and 123 British), predominantly from middle and upper management level working in diverse companies throughout both countries, responded to a survey assessing occupational stress and job satisfaction (Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI)) and leisure preferences (Leisure Interest Inventory (FIF)). A principal-components analysis of the correlation matrix between the 25 OSI subscales produced a 6–7 factor solution similar to that found for the British sample. The internal consistencies of the scales were satisfactory: they were lowest for ‘type A’ and ‘coping’, and highest for ‘job-related stress’ and ‘job satisfaction’. National differences were observed on several of the OSI subscales. German managers expressed higher sources of job-related pressure, particularly in terms of ‘home/work interface’, ‘organizational structure and climate’ and ‘career and achievement’, as well as lower job satisfaction on ‘the job itself and ‘organizational processes’. Furthermore, both national groups displayed high overall ‘type-A behaviour’ and ‘internal locus of control’. German managers revealed significantly higher scores on most coping subscales (‘social support’, ‘task strategies’, ‘time’ and ‘involvement’) with the exception of ‘home and work relationships’, which was higher for the British sample. The German managers displayed significantly better mental health than their British counterparts. Overall job pressure was associated with job dissatisfaction, low internal locus of control, and inferior psychological and physical health. Type-A-behaviour scores were negatively correlated with external locus of control and positively with job satisfaction. Internal locus of control was associated with high job-related pressure, high job satisfaction and mental and physical health. Job satisfaction was related to both psychological and physical health. (All findings replicated for both national groups.)

Key Words:

• Work stress
• Leisure
• Health
• Job satisfaction