Unrewarding work, coworker support, and job satisfaction - A test of the buffering hypothesis

Beneficial effects of social support ill the workplace have received only l imited attention from sociologists. Workgroup interactions, especially soci al support received from coworkers, may significantly contribute to job sat isfaction. This article assesses the effects of coworker support on job sat isfaction, paying particular attention to the nature and influence of instr umental coworker support both relative to and in conjunction with affective coworker support. The authors expect that both affective and instrumental social support will exert significant and independent effects on these outc omes and that instrumental support will buffer the effects of nonrewarding work on job satisfaction. These hypotheses are rested in a series of ordina ry least squares regression models. Data are drawn from a nationally repres entative sample of 2,505 full-time employees. Study findings are consistent with a main effects model of workplace social support. Suggestions for the absence of buffering effects, implications for industrial policy, and futu re research efforts are offered.