Job insecurity and the emotional and behavioural consequences thereof

L Van Zyl,C Van Eeden,S Rothmann

doi:10.4102/sajbm.v44i1.149

L Van Zyl, C Van Eeden + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v44i1.149

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relations among negative emotional reactions (reduced affective organisational commitment and higher job-related stress), and behavioural reactions to job insecurity (coping behaviour). A non-experimental correlation research design was used and the participants were a convenience sample of employees working for a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa (N = 242). The measuring instruments included the Job Insecurity Inventory, the Organisational Commitment Questionnaire, the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire, and the COPE Questionnaire. The results showed that job insecurity was associated with job-related stress. Affective job insecurity was associated with detachment from the organisation, while cognitive job insecurity was associated with low identification with the organisation. Experiences of affective job insecurity, job-related stress, and low organisational commitment were associated with the use of avoidance coping strategies. Employees who experienced cognitive job insecurity (compared to those who experienced lower cognitive job insecurity) were less inclined to apply active coping strategies, even if their job-related stress was low.

Highlights

Over the last decade employees in many countries have been subjected to far-reaching changes, such as organisational restructuring (Kinnunen, Feldt & Mauno, 2003; Schreurs, Van Emmerik, Notelaers & De Witte, 2010)
The aim of this study was to investigate the relations among negative emotional reactions, and behavioural reactions to job insecurity of employees at a hospital
The aim of this study was to investigate the relations among negative emotional reactions, and behavioural reactions to job insecurity of employees in a hospital

Summary

Introduction

Over the last decade employees in many countries have been subjected to far-reaching changes, such as organisational restructuring (Kinnunen, Feldt & Mauno, 2003; Schreurs, Van Emmerik, Notelaers & De Witte, 2010). According to Sverke, Hellgren and Näswall (2002: 243), job insecurity refers to “the subjectively perceived likelihood of involuntary job loss.” Schreurs et al (2010) found that job insecurity affected employees’ health, but that job control buffered the negative effects of job insecurity on health. Job insecurity is regarded as one of the major stressors in the work environment, because it is associated with uncertainty (De Witte, 1999). Job insecurity could be expected to have an impact on the work attitudes and behaviour of employees, and in the long run, on the wellness of the organisation (Hellgren, Sverke & Isakson, 1999, Meyer & Maltin, 2010)

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