What Differentiates Employees' Job Performance Under Stressful Situations: The Role of General Self-Efficacy

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aim of this research is to verify the two-dimensional challenge–hindrance stressor framework in the Chinese context, and investigate the moderating effect of general self-efficacy in the stress process. Data were collected from 164 Chinese employee–supervisor dyads. The results demonstrated that challenge stressors were positively related to job performance while hindrance stressors were negatively related to job performance. Furthermore, general self-efficacy strengthened the positive relationship between challenge stressors and job performance, whereas the attenuating effect of general self-efficacy on the negative relationship between hindrance stressors and job performance was nonsignificant. These findings qualify the two-dimensional challenge–hindrance stressor framework, and support the notion that employees with high self-efficacy benefit more from the positive effect of challenge stressors in the workplace. By investigating the role of an individual difference variable in the challenge–hindrance stressor framework, this research provides a more accurate picture of the nature of job stress, and enhances our understanding of the job stressor–job performance relationship.