Thesis
The impact of aggression on workplace safety: exploring mediating mechanisms and the moderating role of supervisor conflict intervention strategies
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101609
Abstract
Previous research has established a link between individual experiences of workplace aggression and safety; yet, the explanatory mechanisms for this link are unexplored. The purpose of the current study was to explore the role of job stress and psychological distress as mediating mechanisms of the relationship between workplace aggression and a myriad of safety outcomes, including workplace injuries, experienced safety events, unreported safety events, and total accidents. In addition to exploring mediating mechanisms of the workplace aggression-safety link, this study explored the moderating role of perceived supervisor conflict intervention strategies (PSCIS) on the relationship between workplace aggression and safety. This study tested a moderated mediation model wherein the effects of workplace aggression on safety outcomes were hypothesized to be moderated by individual perceptions of supervisor interventions strategies. This model posited that when individuals perceive supervisors to select more effective intervention strategies, the negative impact of workplace aggression on safety outcomes will be lessened by attenuating the effect of workplace aggression on job stress and psychological distress. Study hypotheses were tested using a sample of 109 construction workers recruited from multiple construction companies in the Pacific Northwest United States. Using a bootstrap sampling technique, mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects (mediation through job stress and psychological distress) of workplace aggression on multiple workplace safety outcomes. Specifically, higher levels of workplace aggression were associated with higher levels of job stress and higher psychological distress, which in turn were associated with detrimental workplace safety outcomes. The anticipated moderated mediation was not demonstrated for any of the indirect effects via job stress. However, PSCIS did moderate the impact of vicarious aggression on psychological distress (B = -0.23, p <.05). When vicarious aggression was high and PSCIS was rated high (more effective) the impact of vicarious aggression on safety via psychological distress was diminished.
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Details
- Title
- The impact of aggression on workplace safety
- Creators
- Jesse Lee Byrd
- Contributors
- Tahira M. Probst (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525040901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis