An appraisal perspective of justice,structure, and job control as antecedents of psychological distress |
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| Authors: | Chester S. Spell Todd Arnold |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Business‐Camden, Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey, U.S.A.;2. Each author contributed equally to this paper;3. the order of authorship is reverse alphabetical.;4. Spears School of Business, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Through the application of cognitive appraisal theory, this study unifies the emergent themes of studying justice in relation to organizational context, as well as justice in relation to employee feelings of psychological distress. A sample of 677 employees from 72 organizations was used to test hypotheses related to justice, job control, mechanistic structure, and employee feelings of anxiety and depression. We found procedural justice, within a primary appraisal role, to be a highly effective tool for minimizing psychological distress. In combination with both distributive justice as well as a mechanistic structure, procedural justice can help to minimize feelings of anxiety and depression, but in different manners for each variable. Further, a strong influence of job control upon both procedural justice and, ultimately, depression and anxiety highlighted its role as a perceived means for avoiding or minimizing the harm of a potential stressor. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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