The Ambivalent Appraisal of Job Demands and the Moderating Role of Job Control and Social Support for Burnout and Job Satisfaction

Joachim Gerich,Christoph Weber

doi:10.1007/s11205-019-02195-9

Joachim Gerich, Christoph Weber

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02195-9

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Abstract

Within an extended challenge–hindrance framework, it is assumed that job demands are subjectively appraised both as challenges (that is, as working conditions that are associated with potential personal gains) and hindrances (as working conditions associated with constrains) at the same time. In accordance with transactional stress theory, the association between demand intensity and work-related attitudes (work satisfaction) and psychological strain (burnout) is expected to be mediated by individual appraisal. Moreover, because curvilinear relationships between demand and challenge and hindrance appraisals are assumed, and appraisal is expected to be moderated by job control and social support, we tested complex nonlinear moderated mediation models for four types of job demands (task difficulty, time pressure, interruptions, and responsibility). Based on cross-sectional data of a heterogeneous sample of employees, we confirmed simultaneous challenge and hindrance appraisals. Challenge components are positively associated and hindrance components are negatively associated with favorable outcomes (higher work satisfaction and lower burnout). Challenge appraisals are found to be more relevant for work satisfaction, while hindrance appraisals are more relevant for burnout. The relationship between demand intensity and challenge appraisal is confirmed as curvilinear, whereas hindrance appraisals are approximately linearly related to demand intensity. The relationship between demand intensity and outcome variables is partly mediated by challenge and hindrance appraisal, and significant interaction effects suggest that the appraisal process is moderated by job control and social support.

Highlights

Over many years, research on occupational stress has proven that working conditions affect the health- and work-related well-being of employees (Sonnentag and Frese 2003; Ganster and Rosen 2013)
Social support and job control are positively related to challenge appraisals and negatively related to hindrance appraisals
With respect to the four work demands considered in our study challenge appraisals are more strongly associated with work satisfaction than with burnout, whereas hindrance appraisals are more strongly associated with burnout than with work satisfaction

Summary

Introduction

Research on occupational stress has proven that working conditions affect the health- and work-related well-being of employees (Sonnentag and Frese 2003; Ganster and Rosen 2013). Cavanaugh et al (2000) suggested differentiating “negative” hindrance stressors from challenge stressors that offer potential gains for employees despite their taxing nature. Based on this stressor classification, those authors found that hindrance stressors are associated with elevated strain and reduced positive work attitudes, whereas challenge stressors are associated with elevated strain and elevated positive work attitudes (Boswell et al 2004; Cavanaugh et al 2000; LePine et al 2004; Podsakoff et al 2007). There are strong indications that stressors might be simultaneously appraised as both a challenge and a hindrance

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