Nursing staff survivor responses to hospital restructuring and downsizing

Abstract

AbstractThis study examines correlates of four archetypal survivor responses to organizational restructuring and downsizing proposed by Mishra and Spreitzer:1 hopeful, obliging, cynical and fearful. Data were collected from 744 long‐term nursing staff survivors of hospital restructuring and downsizing using questionnaires. Four types of correlates were considered: personal and work situation characteristics, restructuring‐related work experiences (support, stressors, processes), work outcomes and indicators of psychological well‐being, and perceptions of hospital functioning. Personal and work situation characteristics showed few relationships with the four restructuring responses. Hospital support and positive restructuring processes were associated with lower cynical and fearful responses and higher hopeful responses. Restructuring stressors were associated with higher cynical and fearful responses. Greater endorsement of cynical and fearful restructuring responses was associated with more negative work outcomes and lower psychological well‐being. Greater endorsement of both cynical and fearful responses was also found to be associated with more negative perceptions of hospital functioning and effectiveness. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.