Den emosjonssentrerte jobbstressmodellen. Et nyttig rammeverk for å forstå konsekvenser av interpersonlig konflikt på arbeidsplassen?

This study investigated whether stat anxiety mediates the relationship between interpersonal conflict and the two outcome measures job satisfaction and intentions to quit as postulated in the Emotions-centered model of job stress, and if a perceived strong climate for conflict management work as a moderator in terms of weakening the positive relationship between conflict and anxiety (i.e. buffer effect). Data (n = 312) were obtained from a questionnaire survey conducted at one measuring point in the administration and engineering department of a large Norwegian transportation company. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that state anxiety significantly partly mediated the relationship between interpersonal conflicts, both with the immediate supervisor and with colleagues or others at the workplace, and the outcome measures. Results showed a significant interaction effect of climate for conflict management and conflict on anxiety for both sources of conflict. The study supports the validity of the Emotions-centered model of job stress for the variables examined, and the model's basic idea that interpersonal conflict effects strain through emotions. It also supports the idea that the climate for conflict management influence emotional responses to conflict. The conclusion is however more ambiguous with regard to in what manner this influence takes place, since graphical presentations showed a buffering effect only for conflicts with colleagues or others at the workplace, not for conflict with supervisors. The present study substantiates the Emotions-centered model of job stress as a useful theoretical framework for understanding the consequences of interpersonal conflicts at work. At the same time it shed light on a continuing need to examine anxiety and other mediating emotions, and relevant situational factors such as climate for conflict management, in longitudinal research design to further test its validity