Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T07:29:55.842Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An Investigation on the Mediating Role of Coping Strategies on Locus of Control - Wellbeing Relationship

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Arunachalam Thiruchelvi*
Affiliation:
Anna University (India)
Mangatvadakkeveetil V. Supriya
Affiliation:
Anna University (India)
*
Correspondence concerning the article should be addressed to Thiruchelvi. Department of Management Studies, CEG Campus, Anna University. Chennai-600025 (India). Phone: +91-00422358779. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The relationship among coping strategies, locus of control, and workplace wellbeing is examined. The model hypothesizes that coping strategies mediate the relationship between locus of control and work place well being. To test the model, data was collected from 154 software professionals using separate tools to assess coping strategies, locus of control and work place wellbeing. Model fit for the collected data was examined using structural equation modeling technique with the help of AMOS. Results support the view that coping strategies mediate the relationship between locus of control and work place wellbeing. While the path between locus of control and wellbeing is significant, the path between coping distraction and wellbeing is not significant.

En este trabajo se examinó la relación entre las estrategias de afrontamiento, el locus de control, y el bienestar en el ámbito laboral. El modelo predice que las estrategias de afrontamiento median en la relación entre el locus de control y el bienestar en el ámbito laboral. Para probar el modelo, se recogieron datos de 154 profesionales del software; se usaron herramientas diferentes para evaluar estas tres variables. El modelo de ajuste para los datos recogidos se calculó a partir del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (análisis de rutas) con la ayuda de AMOS. Los resultados apoyan la idea de que las estrategias de afrontamiento median en la relación entre locus de control y bienestar laboral. Se observó una relación significativa entre locus de control y bienestar pero no entre bajo afrontamiento y bienestar..

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrews, F. M., & McKennell, A. C. (1980). Measures of self-reported wellbeing: Their affective, cognitive and other components. Social Indicators Research, 8, 127155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00286474CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Battacharya, S., & Basu, J. (2007). Distress, wellness and organizational role stress among IT professionals: Role of life events and coping resources. Journal of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 33, 169178.Google Scholar
Bentler, P. M., & Wu, E. J. C. (2002). EQS 6 for Windows User's Guide, Encino, CA: Mulitvariate Software.Google Scholar
Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.107.2.238CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bond, F. W., & Bunce, D. (2003). The role of acceptance and job control in mental health, job satisfaction and work performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 10571067. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1057CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bostic, J. T., & Ptacek, T. J. (2001). Personality factors and the short-term variability in subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness, 2, 355373. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013929030931CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In Bollen, K. A. & Long, J. S. (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., & Rodgers, W. L. (1976). The quality of American life: Perceptions, evaluations, and satisfactions. New York, NY: Russel Sage Foundation.Google Scholar
Cantor, N., & Sanderson, C. A. (1999). Life task participation and wellbeing: The importance of taking part in daily life. In Kahneman, D. & Diener, E. (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 230243). New York, NY: Russel Sage Foundation.Google Scholar
Chin, W. W. (1998). Issues and opinion on structural equation modeling. MIS Quarterly, 22, 716.Google Scholar
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1980). Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being: Happy and unhappy people. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 668678. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.38.4.668CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Four ways the Five Factors are basic. Personality and Individual Differences, 13, 653665. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(92)90236-ICrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coyne, J. C., & Downey, G. (1991). Social factors and psychopathology: Stress, social support and coping processes. Annual Review of Psychology, 42, 401425. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.42.1.401CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, K., & Guppy, A. (1992). The dimensionality and well-being related correlates of work locus of control. European Work and Organizational Psychologist, 2, 319330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09602009208408550CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniels, K., & Guppy, A. (1994). Occupational stress, social support, job control and psychological well-being. Human Relations, 47, 15231544. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001872679404701205CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniels, K., & Guppy, A. (1997). Stressors, locus of control and social support as consequences of affective psychological wellbeing. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2, 156174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.2.2.156CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542575. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.95.3.542CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture and subjective wellbeing: Emotional and cognitive evaluations of life. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 403425. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145056CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elizur, D. (1984). Facets of work values: A structural analysis of work outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 69, 379389. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0021-9010.69.3.379CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmons, R. A., & Diener, E. (1985). Personality correlates of subjective well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 11, 8997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167285111008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fast, J., Frederick, J., Zukewich, N., & Franke, S. (2001). The time of our lives. Canadian Social Trends, 63, 2023.Google Scholar
Folkman, S., Lazarus, R. S., Dunkel-Schetter, C., DeLongis, A., & Rand, G. R. (1986). Dynamics of a stressful encounter: cognitive appraisal, coping and encounter outcomes. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 50, 9921003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.50.5.992CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fortes-Ferreira, L., Peiro, J. M., González-Morales, M. G., & Martín, I. (2006). Work related stress and well-being: The roles of direct action doping and palliative coping. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 47, 293302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2006.00519.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Furukawa, T., Sarason, G. I., & Sarason, R. B. (1998). Social support and adjustment to a novel social environment. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 44, 5670. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002076409804400106CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ganster, D. C., & Fusilier, M. R. (1989). Control in the work place. In Cooper, C. L. & Robertson, I. T. (Eds.), International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (pp. 235280). Chichester, England: WileyGoogle Scholar
Garver, M. S., & Mentzer, J. T. (1999). Logistics research methods: Employing structural equation modeling to test for construct validity. Journal of Business Logistics, 20, 3357.Google Scholar
Gianakos, I. (1998). Predictors of coping with work stress: The influences of sex, gender role, social desirability, and locus of control. Sex Roles, 46, 149158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1019675218338CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gupchup, G. V., & Wolfgang, A. P. (1997). A modified work locus of control scale: preliminary investigation of reliability and validity in a sample of pharmacists. Psychological Reports, 81, 640642. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.640CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hair, J. F. Jr., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1998). Multivariate Data Analysis (5th Ed.). New Jersey, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Halamandaris, K. F., & Power, K. G. (1999). Individual differences, social support and coping with the examination stress: A study of the psychosocial and academic adjustment of first year home students. Personality and Individual Differences, 26, 665685. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00172-XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoe, S. L. (2008). Issues and procedures in adopting structural equation modeling technique. Journal of Applied Quatitative Methods, 3, 7683.Google Scholar
Hojat, M., Gonnella, S. J., Nasca, J. T., Fields, K. S., Cicchetti, A., Scalzo, L. A., Taroni, F., … Torres-Ruiz, A. (2003). Comparisons of American, Israeli, Italian and Mexican physicians and nurses on the total and factor scores of the Jefferson scale of attitudes toward physician-nurse collaborative relationships. International Journal of ursing Studies, 40, 427435. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7489(02)00108-6Google ScholarPubMed
Holahan, C. J., & Rudolf, M. H. (1987). Personal and contextual determinants of coping strategies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 946955. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.52.5.946CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joreskog, K. G., & Sorbom, D. (1989). LISREL 7: User's reference guide. Mooresville, IN: Scientific Software, Inc.Google Scholar
Joreskog, K. G., & Sorbom, D. (1993). LISREL8: Structural equation modeling with the SIMPLIS command language. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Kesavachandran, C., Rastogi, S. K., Das, M., & Khan, A. M. (2006). Working conditions and health among employees at information technology-enabled services: A review of current evidence. Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, 60, 300307. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0019-5359.26606CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kline, R. B. (1998). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Kohn, L. M., & Schooler, C. (1982). Job conditions and personality: A longitudinal assessment of their reciprocal effects. The American Journal of Sociology, 87, 12571286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/227593CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krause, N., & Stryker, S. (1984). Stress and wellbeing: the buffering role of locus of control beliefs. Social Science Medicine, 18, 783790. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(84)90105-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological Stress and the Coping process, New York, NY: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R. S. (2000). Toward better research on stress and coping. American Psychologist, 55, 665673. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.6.665CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal and Coping. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.Google Scholar
Levy, S., & Guttman, L. (1975). On the multivariate structure of wellbeing. Social Indicators Research, 2, 361388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00293253CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levy, S., & Sabbagh, C. (2008). The wellbeing of the self's personality: A structural analysis. Social Indicators Research, 89, 473485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9244-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Locke, E. A. (1983). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In Dunnette, M. D. (Ed.), Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (pp. 12971349). New York, NY: Wiley Publications.Google Scholar
McMurray, E. N., Richard, J. B., Archimede, D. F., Michael, M., & Wright, F. A. C., (1986). Relationship between locus of control and effects of coping strategies on dental stress in children. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 8, 118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J019v08n03_01CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meng, X. H., He, Y. H., Yu, S. F., & Qi, X. Y. (2009). Relationship between work locus of control and occupational stress in oil workers. Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, 26, 718720.Google Scholar
Meyers, L. S., Gamst, G. C., & Guarino, A. J. (2005). Applied multivariate research: Design and interpretation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Moyle, P. (1995). The role of negative affectivity in the stress process: Tests of alternative models. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 16, 647668. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.4030160705CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muthen, B., & Kaplan, D. (1985). A comparison of some methodologies for the factor analysis of non-normal Likert variables. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 38, 171189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8317.1985.tb00832.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Page, K. (2005). Subjective wellbeing in the workplace. (Unpublished honours thesis). Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.Google Scholar
Parkes, K. R. (1984). Locus of control, cognitive appraisal, and coping in stressful episodes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 655668. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.46.3.655CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petrosky, M. J., & Birkimer, J. C. (1991). The relationship among locus of control, coping styles, and psychological symptom reporting. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47, 336345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(199105)47:3<336::AID-JCLP2270470303>3.0.CO;2-L3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rajeswari, K., & Anantharaman, R. N. (2005). Role of human-computer interaction factors as moderators of occupational stress and work exhaustion. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 19, 137154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327590ijhc1901_9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iverson, D. R., Olekalns, M., & Erwin, P. J. (1998). Affectivity, organizational stressors, and absenteeism: A causal model of burnout and its consequences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 52, 123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1996.1556CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rotter, J. B. (1954). Social learning and clinical psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/10788-000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monograph, 80, 128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0092976CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scheier, M. F., Wrosch, C., Baum, A., Cohen, S., Martire, L. M., Matthews, K. A., … Zdaniuk, B. (2006). The life engagement test: Assessing purpose in life. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29, 291298. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10865-005-9044-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schroder, H. M., & Rotter, J. B. (1954). Generalization of expectancy changes as a function of the nature of reinforcement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 48, 343348. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0058823CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sharma, A. K., Khera, S., & Khandekar, J. (2006). Computer related health problems among information technology professionals in Delhi. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 31, 3638. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.54936CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sigelman, C. K., & Shaffer, D. R. (1995). L~espan Human Development. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.Google Scholar
Silber, E., Hamburg, D. A., Coelho, G. V., Murphy, E. B., Rosenberg, M., & Pearlin, L. I. (1961). Adaptive behavior in competent adolescents: Coping with anticipation of college. Archives of General Psychiatry, 5, 354365. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710160034004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Somerfield, M. R., & McCrae, R. R. (2000). Stress and coping research. Methodological challenges, theoretical advances, and clinical applications. American Psychologist, 55, 620625. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.6.620CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sosik, J. J., Kahai, S.S., & Avolio, J. B. (1999). Leadership style, anonymity, and creativity in group decision support systems: The mediating role of optimal flow. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 33, 227256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spector, P. E. (1988). Development of the work locus of control scale. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 61, 335340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1988.tb00470.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steiger, J. H. (1990). Structural model evaluation and modification: an interval estimation approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25, 173180. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr2502_4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Talwar, R., Kapoor, R., Puri, K., Bansal, K., & Singh, S. (2009). A study of visual and musculoskeletal health disorders among computer professionals in NCR Delhi. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 34, 326328. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.58392CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorn, B. E., Ward, C., & Clements, K. L. (2003). Cognitive theraphy for chronic pain: A step by step approach. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Vaillant, G. E. (2000). Adaptive mental mechanisms: Their role in a positive psychology. American Psychologist, 55, 8998. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.1.89CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wadsworth, E. M., Gudmundsen, R. G., Raviv, T., Ahlkvist, A. J., McIntosh, D. N., Kline, H. G., … Burwell, A. R. (2004). Coping with terrorism: Age and gender differences in effortful and involuntary responses to september 11th. Applied Developmental Science, 8, 143157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s1532480xads0803_4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, T. A., & Douglas, B. G. (1997). The role of pleasantness and activation based well-being in performance prediction. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2, 212219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//1076-8998.2.3.212CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, T. A., & Cropanzano, R., (2000). Psychological well-being and job satisfaction as predictors of job performance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5, 8494. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//1076-8998.5.1.84CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, T. A., & Staw, B. M. (1999). Affect and favourable work outcomes: Two longitudinal tests of the happy-productive worker thesis. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 20, 123.3.0.CO;2-W>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wrosch, C., & Scheier, M. F. (2003). Personality and quality of life: The importance of optimism and goal adjustment. Quality of Life Research, 12, 5972. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1023529606137CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wrzesniewski, A., McCauley, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, careers, and callings: People's relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 31, 2133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.1997.2162CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zika, S., & Chamberlain, K. (1987). Relation of hassles and personality to subjective well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 155162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.53.1.155CrossRefGoogle Scholar