The Individual, Interpersonal and Organizational Determinants of Psychological Distress in the Workplace

Examines the scientific validity of a two-steo model explaining psychological distress in organizations. Although such distress is predicted by 3 organizational stressors -- excessive workload, role conflict, & role ambiguity -- these stressors are determined by individual resources (locus of control & type A personality behavior), interpersonal resources (social support), & organizational resources (worker's decisional autonomy). Data obtained via a self-administered questionnaire survey of 636 workers in 4 tertiary-sector organizations in Quebec, subjected to multiple regression analyses, indicate that work overload is linked with type A behavior & supervisor support, role ambiguity with supervisor support & demographic characteristics, & role conflict with type A behavior, supervisor support, & decision lattitude. General psychological distress is determined by work overload, role ambiguity, supervisor support, education, & stressful life events. Theoretical implications are discussed. 6 Tables, 34 References. Adapted from the source document.