title: Costs of simultaneous coping with emotional dissonance and self-control demands at work: results from two German samples.
abstract: In the present study, we examine interactive effects of emotional dissonance (ED) and self-control demands (SCDs; impulse control, resisting distractions, and overcoming inner resistances) on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, depressive symptoms, and absenteeism. We derived the prediction of interactive effects from the well-founded theoretical argument that both sources of work stress draw on and compete for a common limited regulatory resource. On the basis of 2 German samples (1 cross-sectional and 1 longitudinal sample; NTOTAL = 367), 7 of the 8 interactions tested were found to explain significant proportions of variance in all 4 outcomes considered over and beyond that accounted for by demographic characteristics, outcome stability (longitudinal sample), and main effects. Consistent with our hypotheses, the positive relations of 1 of both stressors (ED or SCDs) to psychological strain and absenteeism were amplified as a function of the other stressor. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at Technical University of Dortmund, Ardeystr. 67, Dortmund D-44139, Germany. diestel@ifado.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diestel
authors.forename: Klaus-Helmut
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006077:Government Agencies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult