Comparison of a multidimensional and a global measure of job insecurity: Predicting job attitudes and work behaviors

This paper examined the multidimensional formulation of job insecurity theory described by Greenhalgh and Rosenblatt in 1984. They held that job insecurity is multidimensional and is comprised of two principle threats, (1) threat to the job and (2) threat to job features. To date, there has been no empirical test comparing the predictive value of the separate dimensions of job insecurity on the outcome variables commitment, trust, and job search behavior. A total of 276 managers completed surveys of their job insecurity using both multidimensional and global measures of job insecurity. Regression analysis suggested that the job threat dimension better explains outcome attitudes and behaviors than the job features dimension. Further, contrary to earlier reports, the global measure of job insecurity explained more variance in two out of three outcome variables investigated here. Implications for job insecurity measurement and theory are discussed.