The Relationship among Role Conflict, Role Ambiguity, Role Overload and Job Stress of Chinese Middle-Level Cadres

Zhou Yongkang,Hu Yalin,Xi Yipeng,Tan Liu,Zeng Weixi

doi:10.4236/chnstd.2014.31003

Abstract

This research aims to explore the relationship among role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload and job stress of middle-level cadres in Chinese local government. Through a questionnaire survey of 220 cadres, the results showed that time pressure was significantly correlated with role conflict and role overload; job anxiety and job stress were significantly and positively correlated with role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload; role ambiguity had a significant and positive effect on job anxiety and job stress; role conflict and role overload had a significant and positive effect on time stress, job anxiety and job stress.

Highlights

Since mid-20 century, stress problem has become a focal point of research in western management science, psychology and other disciplines
There were 7 items in role ambiguity sub-scale, such as “I often get involved in such situations full of conflicting requirements”, and “I must do different things under different circumstances”
We have found that role ambiguity, conflict and overload do commonly exist among middle-level cadres, most of whom experienced more stress and anxiety due to this

Summary

Introduction

Since mid-20 century, stress problem has become a focal point of research in western management science, psychology and other disciplines. Because of the significant influence of job stress on both individuals and organizations, researches on the topic of stress have become a growing concern with the development of economy. The increasing of government officers’ job stress and psychological stress has become a common phenomenon in China, which has frequently caused many events and caught the attention from the whole society. There were 10 Chinese officials who committed suicide in the first half of 2010; 5 Chinese officials committed suicide in less than 2 months in 2013, which aroused great concern of public opinion. What caused the occurrence of such events? What caused the occurrence of such events? How can we avoid its happening to the largest extent? All of these deserve us to think and study seriously

Objectives

Methods

Results