Work stress and depression : the direct and moderating effects of informal social support and coping
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Stress and Health
Publication Date
12-2009
Volume
25
Issue
5
First Page
431
Last Page
443
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Keywords
work stress, depression, informal social support, coping strategies, Chinese
Abstract
This article investigated the relationship between job stressors and employee mental health (depression). It also examined the direct and moderating effects of informal social support (objective and subjective) and coping (active coping, overeating and drinking, passivity, and distancing) on the relationships. Survey data were collected from 843 employees in eight types of domestic- and foreign-invested enterprises in China. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that increased exposure to job stressors was directly associated with higher levels of depression. Subjective informal social support and passivity were found to have direct effect on employees' depression. Further, objective informal social support and distancing buffered the negative effect of job stressors on depression. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in the paper.
DOI
10.1002/smi.1263
Print ISSN
15323005
E-ISSN
15322998
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Accepted Author Manuscript
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Chen, W.-Q., Siu, O.-L., Lu, J.-F., Cooper, C. L., & Phillips, D. R. (2009). Work stress and depression: The direct and moderating effects of informal social support and coping. Stress and Health, 25(5), 431-443. doi: 10.1002/smi.1263