Modeling the Effects of Efficacy, Justice, and Conflict Among Reservists Activated for Homeland Defense

Abstract

We proposed that issues surrounding job-related self-efficacy, procedural justice, and intragroup conflict are likely to be present in nearly all activations and mobilizations of National Guard and Reserve Soldiers. Using an occupational stress framework, we developed a theoretical model for how these variables would interact and impact reservist job satisfaction and well-being. We tested the model using longitudinal data collected from 105 Reservists activated and mobilized after September 11, 2001 for homeland defense. Our central proposition was that perceptions of procedural justice in the early months of the mobilization would have important indirect carry-over effects in terms of Soldiers' follow-on job satisfaction and well-being. Specifically, we proposed that procedural justice, self-efficacy, and intragroup conflict would show a 3-way interaction such that self-efficacy would display a buffering effect only when accompanied by high procedural justice. Results supported our theoretical proposition. Practical implications are discussed.