FACTORS INFLUENCING EMPLOYEES PROPENSITY TO USE AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Using data collected from 1,987 employees at several locations of a la rge firm, this study investigates relationships between these employee s' cognitive and attitudinal perceptions of an employee assistance pro gram (EAP) and their propensity to use it. Familiarity with the progra m, perceived accessibility of it, and perceived managerial support for it are hypothesized to affect both employees' confidence in the progr am and their propensity to use it, and confidence in the EAP is furthe r hypothesized to affect propensity to use. LISREL analysis supported the overall model, but the direct paths from the cognitive variables t o propensity to use were not supported and confidence in the program w as therefore indicated to be an essential mediating variable. Propensi ty to use an EAP is argued to be an important indicator of effective E AP implementation and suggestions are offered to management for promot ing employee confidence in an EAP and ultimately their propensity to u se it.