ABUSIVE INTERACTION AND ROLE STATE STRESSORS - RELATIVE IMPACT ON STUDENT RESIDENCE ASSISTANT STRESS AND WORK ATTITUDES

Despite the recognition that poor working relationships can contribute to strain (Chen and Spector 1991, Cooper and Marshall 1978, Kahn and Byosiere 1993, Spector 1987, Spector et al. 1988) and increasing conce rn over Violence and aggression in the workplace (Northwestern Nationa l Life Insurance Co. 1993), little research attention has been paid to hostile interpersonal interaction as a work-related stressor. While r ecent work has focused on interpersonal conflict and sexual harassment as stressors, emotionally abusive interactions have remained largely unaddressed by the organizational stress literature. These interaction s are characterized by hostile verbal and non-verbal, non-physical beh aviours directed by one or more persons towards another that negativel y affect the target's sense of him/herself as a competent person and w orker (Keashly et al. 1994, Leymann 1990). The current study examined whether emotional abuse contributed uniquely to understanding work-rel ated stress in student residence assistants (RAs). Seventy-six RAs emp loyed by a Canadian university responded to a questionnaire on the qua lity of their work experience. The stressors examined were role confli ct, role overload, role ambiguity, and number, frequency, and impact o f abusive events with dormitory residents. Outcome variables included job-related tension, job satisfaction, job commitment, and intention t o leave. Emotional abuse contributed similar amounts of unique Varianc e as the role state stressors to the Variables of tension, job satisfa ction and intention to leave suggesting emotional abuse is an importan t and unique workplace stressor. Implications of these findings for fu ture research are discussed.