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Published on: June 19, 2019
Praise and recognition from supervisors buffers employee psychological strain: A two-sample investigation with
Adele J Bergin1, Michelle K Tucker1, Nerina L Jimmieson1
1School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia.
Background:
Focusing on employees with psychological strain, this research draws on Fredrickson's 'undoing hypothesis' to examine praise and recognition from one's supervisor as an organizational resource.
Objective:
A model is tested in which psychological strain is a mediator in the positive relationship between role demands and employees' intentions to take sick leave and seek medical advice, and positions supervisor praise and recognition as a buffer of psychological strain on such intentions.
Methods:
The model was tested using two Australian samples in the tourism sector, consisting of motel workers (n = 104) and museum workers (n = 168).
Results:
For museum workers, but not motel workers, there was a positive indirect effect of each role demand on sick leave intentions through psychological strain that weakened as a function of supervisor praise and recognition. The proposed moderated mediated model was supported for both samples in regards to intentions to seek medical advice.
Conclusions:
This research contributes new evidence regarding the antecedents of employees' intentions to take sick leave and seek medical advice for work stress-related problems. It also contributes to the limited evidence regarding supervisor praise and recognition as a protective factor for employees exhibiting the symptoms of psychological strain.
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