On the cross-environment generality of the relational view of stress

Abstract

This study was designed to test the cross-environment generality of the relational view of stress, originated by Lazarus, by a comparative analysis of the structural components of stress perceptions. To the two components suggested by Lazarus, environmental demands and individual resources, a third component, qualitative vs. quantitative aspects of resources, was added. A mapping sentence which included the three facets provided the basis for the formulation of structural hypotheses and for the derivation of a set of questionnaire items. The hypotheses were tested in three different work environments, each involving a subsample selected from a sample of urban Jewish adults in Israel ( n = 429), using smallest space analysis and PINDIS. The results supported Lazarus' original conceptual definition of stress in that the dimensional structure obtained reflected the two facets of demand and resources. A similar structure was obtained for the three different work environments—involving salaried employees, self-employed, and homemakers. This was interpreted as indicating that future operationalizations of the concept of social psychological stress should include those two facets, demand and resources.