Relative Deprivation and Social Identity in Times of Dramatic Social Change: The Case of Nurses1

Abstract

In the present study, an integration of relative deprivation theory and social identity theory is proposed to account for people's reactions to dramatic changes affecting their daily lives. Data collected among nurses (n = 108) indicate that feelings of relative deprivation are influenced by different perceptions of organizational change. Path analysis shows that feelings of social relative deprivation derive from negative changes that are numerous, and that temporal relative deprivation is experienced as a result of negative changes that are rapid. In terms of the link between social identity and relative deprivation, 2 contrasting approaches were tested. Analyses support the view that in‐group identification acts as a precursor, rather than as a consequence, of relative deprivation.