Affective personality and the content of emotional social support: Coping in organizations

This field study extended previous research by simultaneously examining the influence of affective personality on 4 dimensions of emotional social sup port and job burnout. Furthermore, the dimensions of emotional social suppo rt were examined as to their differential effects on the components of burn out. Results suggest that affective personality characteristics are associa ted with emotional social support as well as burnout dimensions. Results al so indicate that some types of emotional social support appear to guard aga inst burnout, whereas other types appear to contribute to the burnout exper ience. These findings suggest that types of emotional social support may ha ve different personality antecedents and that distinct dimensions of social support have differential consequences in regard to burnout. Suggestions f or future research are offered.