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Work stress, control beliefs and well‐being in Greater China: An exploration of sub‐cultural differences between the PRC and Taiwan

Luo Lu (Department of Psychology, Fu‐Jen Catholic University, Taiwan)
Cary L. Cooper (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, UK)
Shu‐Fang Kao (Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan)
Yun Zhou (Department of Scientific Research and Continuing Education, Fu Dan University, China)

Journal of Managerial Psychology

ISSN: 0268-3946

Article publication date: 1 September 2003

4826

Abstract

Towards the end of the twentieth century, the world has witnessed an amazing economic take‐off in the East Asia, especially within the territory of so‐called “Greater China”, encompassing the PRC and Taiwan. Against this economic and cultural background, this study surveyed 258 and 189 employees respectively in Taiwan, and the PRC (Shanghai), to examine generalizability of a generic work‐stress model to the Chinese societies. It further examined the sub‐cultural differences in the work‐stress processes, by drawing contrast of the PRC and Taiwan. In addition, roles of emic constructs of Chinese primary and secondary control beliefs were also examined. Results showed that the generic work‐stress model could be reasonably applied to Chinese urban work contexts in the PRC and Taiwan. Work stress related as expected to strain effects. At a more refined sub‐cultural level, it was found that different sources of work stress became salient contributors to strain outcomes in the PRC and Taiwan. These differences reflect the diverse political, social, and economic characteristics of the two Chinese societies. More importantly, emic constructs of Chinese control beliefs were found to have rather consistent direct effects on strain outcomes. However, indirect (moderating) effects of control beliefs were not strong and inconsistent.

Keywords

Citation

Lu, L., Cooper, C.L., Kao, S. and Zhou, Y. (2003), "Work stress, control beliefs and well‐being in Greater China: An exploration of sub‐cultural differences between the PRC and Taiwan", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 18 No. 6, pp. 479-510. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940310494359

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited

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