Do Social Support for Women and Men Change in Reducing Job Stress? An Examination on Research Assistants

Job stress is considered as a significant organizational problem that reduces employees’ productivity, increases risk of suffering an occupational accident, and causes low performance and turnover. This study determines how social support perceived by employees from nonwork sources affects the stres...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ozan Büyükyılmaz, Hatice Coşkunoğlu Kaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2022-06-01
Series:Journal of Economy Culture and Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/4797487231F24E5BB8DE395AA5A0A411
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Summary:Job stress is considered as a significant organizational problem that reduces employees’ productivity, increases risk of suffering an occupational accident, and causes low performance and turnover. This study determines how social support perceived by employees from nonwork sources affects the stress experienced in the workplace and how this effect differs for women and men. In the study, the relationships between three sources of social support, job stress, and gender were investigated. Data were collected through a questionnaire from 96 research assistants working at a state university in Turkey. Hypotheses were tested by partial least squares structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 3. The study findings show that all three sources of social support reduce job stress. Besides, it has been determined that the reducing effect of family support on job stress is significant only for women, and the reducing effect of friend support on job stress is significant only for men. The effect of significant other support on job stress does not differ between women and men. The findings of the study might contribute to the current understanding of the relationship between social support and employee health. Additionally, the study findings will assist the university administration in developing effective measures to reduce job stress.
ISSN:2645-8772