Trust in management and state government mitigate the relationships between individual- and state-level stressors and well-being during COVID-19

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Managerial Psychology

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the role of trust in management and state government in mitigating the relationships between individual- and state-level stressors and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from a US sample still working during the first wave of infections (N = 437) and was supplemented with objective state-level data. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression modeling with the PROC MIXED procedure with SAS software to incorporate both individual- and state-level variables. Findings: Results indicated that individual-level stressors (work and family role overload) were positively associated with stress; however, the relationship between family role overload and stress was mitigated among those with high trust in state government. Results indicated that state-level stressors (infection rates and population density) were not associated with stress; however, the relationship between state population density and stress was positive among those with low trust in management and negative among those with high trust in management. Practical implications: This study highlights the need for organization and government leaders to build trust before and during crisis situations, as well as engage in a collaborative approach to managing stressors in crisis situations. Originality/value: This study highlights the importance of expanding the focus of employee trust across organizational boundaries for understanding employee well-being during a crisis situation. This study also demonstrates the cross-over effects of trust, such that organization leaders can protect workers from community stressors, while government leaders can protect workers from family stressors.

ISSN

0268-3946

Publisher

Emerald

Disciplines

Business | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

COVID-19, Organization, Stress, Trust, Well-being

Scopus ID

85170554339

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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