ABSTRACT

Researchers have found the effects of challenge stressors to be contradictory, sometimes showing positive effects and other times showing negative effects. To disclose the nature of this inconsistency, our study takes a resource-based behavioural approach to examine why and when challenge stressors are beneficial or harmful for employees. Specifically, we examine how trait mindfulness affects the pursuit of different coping behaviours (i.e., resource building versus resource draining) when faced with challenge stressors, which further translate into outcomes of employee dedication and cynicism, respectively. A sample of 163 employees from various organizations finished surveys on focal research variables in three waves. Using structural equation modelling, we confirmed the hypothesized model. Our findings provide behavioural mechanisms explaining the contradictory effects of challenge stressors and establish a cognitive basis for selecting adaptive coping behaviours. People were provided with knowledge on practical behavioural copings, and organizations and practitioners should recruit or cultivate individuals with high mindful awareness for high-demanding jobs to avoid ineffective copings and corresponding ill-being.

摘要

研究人员发现挑战压力源的影响是矛盾的，有时表现出积极影响，有时表现出负面影响。为了揭示这种不一致的性质，我们的研究采用基于资源的行为方法来检查挑战压力源为何以及何时对员工有利或有害。具体来说，我们研究了特质正念如何在面对挑战压力源时影响对不同应对行为（即资源建设与资源消耗）的追求，这进一步分别转化为员工奉献精神和愤世嫉俗的结果。来自不同组织的 163 名员工的样本分三轮完成了对焦点研究变量的调查。使用结构方程建模，我们证实了假设的模型。我们的研究结果提供了解释挑战压力源的矛盾影响的行为机制，并为选择适应性应对行为建立了认知基础。为人们提供了实用的行为应对知识，组织和从业者应招募或培养具有高度正念意识的个人，以应对高要求的工作，以避免无效的应对和相应的不适。