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Characteristics of Social Support at Work Affecting Work Stress  

박경옥 (이화여자대학교 보건교육과)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion / v.20, no.3, 2003 , pp. 91-108 More about this Journal
Abstract
Psychological stress is a growing issue in work stress research because work stressors are closely related to depression； and depression, in turn, decreases organizational effectiveness. Considering such causal relationships of work stress, a comprehensive source to control work stress is needed for worksite mental well-being. This study was conducted to identify how social support at work controlled work stress and which characteristics of social support were effective on work stress reduction. The study participants were 240 workers employed in a public hospital in Georgia, U.S.A self-administered survey was given to employees with their pay slips, and followed by a hospital wide voice reminder for 7 days. Surveys were conducted over a 20-day period. The questionnaires asked about job demands, job control, social support at work, depression, job performance, absenteeism, and demographics. The social support construct was structured on the source of support at work and the kinds of support were provided. Statistical analyses were conducted in the structural equation modeling approach. Social support at work was directly related to high job control, low depression, and high job performance. High score of social support at work were significantly associated with high job control, low depressive symptoms, and high job performance. By source of support, only organizational support was positively related to high job control. Organizational support was more effective than supervisor and coworker support. Any stressors and their outcomes were not differenciated by the kinds of support. This result indicated that job control was influenced more by the source of support than the kinds of support provided at work； and the most efficient source of support was the organization. Organizational support was a strong factor in improving workers" perceived controllability of their jobs from a work stress reduction perspective.tive.
Keywords
Hospital workers; Social support at work; Work stress; Depression; Job performance; Structural equation modeling;
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