Anger in young Black and White workers: Effects of job control, dissatisfaction, and support

Sheila T. Fitzgerald, Jennifer A. Haythornthwaite, Sonia Suchday, Craig K. Ewart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

This cross-sectional study tested the hypothesis that characteristics of work that contribute to job strain also increase anger in young service-sector workers. A new measure of anger directed at coworkers, supervisors, and customers was regressed on job strain indices (job control, coworker and supervisor support, dissatisfaction) in models that controlled for dispositional negative affect and work status. Results in a sample of 230 young Black and White men and women revealed that low levels of job control and social support, and high levels of job dissatisfaction, were independently associated with increased work-related anger. Moreover, social support moderated the impact of low job control on anger directed at coworkers. Findings indicate that anger experienced at work may be an early marker of job stress, which has been prospectively related to cardiovascular disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)283-296
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Behavioral Medicine
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anger
  • Job stress
  • Social support
  • Young workers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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