COPING WITH TRANSITION - A STUDY OF LAYOFF SURVIVORS

This study examined the determinants and consequences of survivors' co ping responses to a recent workforce reduction involving permanent lay offs. The participants consisted of 200 unionized technicians in the t elecommunications industry. Survivors with high optimistic predisposit ions and a strong sense of mastery were more likely to engage in contr ol-oriented coping. Perceived threat of job loss was positively relate d to the use of both control and escape coping whereas sense of powerl essness was negatively related to the use of control coping. Control c oping was associated with positive outcomes and escape coping with neg ative outcomes. Coping had both additive and interactive effects on th e outcome variables. The implications of these findings for management are discussed.