Stress and coping among layoff survivors: A self-affirmation analysis

Three studies tested the hypothesis that employees would react negatively t o stressful concomitants of layoffs to the extent that the stressor threate ned their self-integrity, that is, conceptions of esteem, identity, or pers onal control. One of the independent variables in all three studies consist ed of an aspect of layoffs (e.g., job insecurity) believed to threaten indi viduals' self-integrity. It was predicted that if negative reactions to asp ects of layoffs were due to threatened self-integrity, then the effect of t hose aspects should be reduced when individuals have engaged in activities that reaffirm their self-integrity. The results of all three studies suppor ted the predictions.