Social Support and Occupational Stress Among University Employees

Abstract

The negative impact of occupational stress can be observed both at the micro- and the macro-level, affecting not only employee quality of life, but also the overall productivity of an organization. This study investigated the role of two protective factors, social support and religiosity, on occupational stress among employees at a private Christian university in the southeast. The sample consisted of 72 employees, primarily female (N = 53), Caucasian (81%), and married (72%), and with a mean age of 40.4 years. Specifically, the study evaluated the relationship between workrelated social support (JCQ), nonwork-related social support (ISEL), and religious coping (RCOPE) on occupational stress (JCQ). A significant inverse relationship was found between work-related social support and occupational stress. The implications of these findings and the limitations of the study are discussed.