AN EMPIRICAL-EXAMINATION OF STRESS IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING

This paper presents the results of an investigation of stress in public accounting, using a national sample of certified public accountants. The relationship between a set of predictor variables (organizational stressors and work/home conflict) and a set of criterion variables (job-related tension, job dissatisfaction, and propensity to leave public accounting) was analyzed using canonical correlation analysis. Job-related tension was associated with heavy work demands; job dissatisfaction and intention to leave were associated with slow career progress, unfulfilling jobs, and unclear job objectives.