Interpersonal conflict and perceived work stress: The role of negative affectivity

This study examined the role of negative affectivity (NA) in the formation process of perceived work stress among workers employed in two Italian organizations. Psycho-physical strain, perceived conflict (with superiors and colleagues), and NA were detected through self-report, adapting the Strain-Free Negative Affectivity Scale to the Italian context. Four alternative models, popular in the literature on work stress, were tested. Each hypothesizes a specific role for NA. The analyses conducted suggest that NA has both a direct effect on strain and an indirect one, through perceived conflict. From a theoretical point of view, the results show, therefore, a substantive role of NA in the formation of perceived work stress. From an application point of view, they point to the opportuneness of also adopting hetero-evaluations or objective indicators of stress together with self-evaluations of stress.