Social Stressors on the Job: Recommendations for a Broadened Perspective

Recent job-stress research indicating the impact of psychosocial stressors on employees is outlined. Four suggestions are presented to broaden the job-stress research while keeping the psychosocial emphasis. These suggestions are: (1) search for additional psychosocial stressors; (2) expand the types of social support investigated as moderating variables; (3) research outcomes of job stress other than employee strains; and (4) consider the use of theories other than role theory in developing research hypotheses. It also is recommended that research be integrated with stress-management programs, and specific research designs are suggested for the evaluation of such programs. The link between on-the-job stressors and off-the-job strains, the joint interaction of social stressors and physical stressors, and the standardization of diagnostic instruments to measure job stress are recommended for examination.