Responding to conflict at work and individual well-being: The mediating role of flight behaviour and feelings of helplessness

Maria T.M. Dijkstra*, Dirk van Dierendonck, Arne Evers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

A field study involving a healthcare institution was conducted, to examine the mediating influence of conflict responses on the relation between conflict and well-being. We tested the hypothesis that conflict at work and its responses resulted in the experience of more organizational stress and therefore in reduced well-being. Using structural equation modelling we found support for our hypotheses. We not only showed that conflict was positively related to helplessness and flight behaviour, but also that these responses mediated between conflict and organizational stress. Finally, increases in experienced organizational stress reduced well-being. Implications for conflict theory and well-being in organizations are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-135
Number of pages17
JournalEuropean Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2005

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