The role of negative affectivity in the evaluation of work stress: An empirical survey

The evaluation of work stress is very often conducted using self-report measures in order to detect both the risk factors and their consequences in terms of strain. However, some authors criticize the exclusive use of self-report measurements in 284 the evaluation of work stress. In particular, many objections are related to the role, as yet unclear, played by affectivity in the process of work stress (Cox, Griffiths & Rial-Gonzalez, 2000; Semmer, Grebner, & Elfering, 2004). This study was conducted in one Italian organization (n = 670) in order to examine the role of negative affectivity (NA) in the formation process of perceived work stress among its workers. An adaptation of the Strain Free Negative Affectivity Scale created for the Italian context was used in this organization in order to assess psycho-physical strain, perceived conflict and negative affectivity. Four popular models, widely present in the literature on work stress, were tested within the observed organization: partial mediation model, common cause model, regression model, total mediation model. These models are characterized by a specific role, different in each of them, played by NA. The results show both a direct and an indirect – through perceived conflict – effect of NA on strain. There is also evidence of a relevant role of NA in the formation process of perceived work stress. These results highlight the seasonableness of adding hetero-evaluations or objective indicators of stress to self-evaluations in order to obtain a broader and integrated knowledge of the work stress in the observed context.