CAREER SELF-EFFICACY AS A MODERATOR OF THE RELATION BETWEEN OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND STRAIN

Self-efficacy in Holland's (1973, 1985) three environments (i.e., conventional, investigative, and enterprising), three sources of occupational stress (i.e., role overload, responsibility, and role insufficiency), and four types of strain (i.e., vocational, interpersonal, psychological, and physical) were assessed for 435 Japanese female office workers. Total self-efficacy in the three environments moderated the relationship between stress and strain differently depending upon the nature of stress. Subjects with low self-efficacy reported higher degrees of vocational strain to the extent that role overload and responsibility were salient. In contrast, subjects high in self-efficacy reported higher degrees of interpersonal and physical strain to the extent that role insufficiency was salient. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. © 1992.