Stress and coping among layoff survivors: A self-affirmation analysis

Three studies tested the hypothesis that employees would react negatively to stressful concomitants of layoffs to the extent that the stressor threatened their self-integrity, that is, conceptions of esteem, identity, or personal control. One of the independent variables in all three studies consisted of an aspect of layoffs (e.g., job insecurity) believed to threaten individuals' self-integrity. It was predicted that if negative reactions to aspects of layoffs were due to threatened self-integrity, then the effect of those aspects should be reduced when individuals have engaged in activities that reaffirm their self-integrity. The results of all three studies supported the predictions.