TRAIT ANXIETY, WORK DEMAND, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESSIN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS

This study examined the role of social support in the relationship bet ween work demand and psychological distress (GHQ 12) in correctional o fficers (N=419), a high stress occupational group. Work demands were p ositively associated with strain. There was no evidence that social su pport buffered the negative impact of work demands. Rather, consistent with most previous research findings, support showed direct benefits and these were discussed in the context of worker participation and co ntrol. The hypothesis that officers high in negative affectivity, as m easured by trait anxiety would show greater reactivity to work demands was not supported. However, trait anxiety appeared to inflate the rel ationship between work stressors (work demand and work support) and ps ychological distress supporting recent suggestions that the role of tr ait anxiety in occupational stress should not be disregarded. Trait an xiety combined additively with work demand to predict individual diffe rences in psychological distress, however social support moderated the impact of trait anxiety on strain.