Contact with AIDS patients as a source of work-related distress: effects of organizational and social support

In this study, we hypothesized that a nurse's exposure to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients as part of the work role is positively associated with distress as indexed by negative mood at work. Given this expected relation, we sought to identify factors that might reduce the neg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Academy of Management journal 1993-02, Vol.36 (1), p.157-171
Main Authors: George, J M, Reed, T F, Ballard, K A, Colin, J, Fielding, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accelerated death benefits
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - nursing
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - psychology
AIDS
Attitude of Health Personnel
Employee problems
Exposure
Health care industry
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Hypotheses
Infections
Irritable Mood
New York
Nurse-Patient Relations
Nurses
Nurses - psychology
Nursing care
Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data
Organizational behavior
Perceptions
Regression Analysis
Self esteem
Social Support
Statistical analysis
Stress
Stress, Psychological - prevention & control
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Work environment
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Summary:In this study, we hypothesized that a nurse's exposure to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients as part of the work role is positively associated with distress as indexed by negative mood at work. Given this expected relation, we sought to identify factors that might reduce the negative effects of caring for AIDS patients on nurses. We predicted that both organizational and social support would moderate the relationship between extent of exposure and negative mood, with the relationship being strongest when support is low and weakest when support is high. The results of tests among a sample of 256 nurses supported all the hypotheses. We discuss implications of this study and directions for future research.
ISSN:0001-4273
1948-0989
DOI:10.5465/256516