Life Stresses, Explanatory Style, Hopelessness, and Occupational Class

This study uses hopelessness theory to examine systematic variation in explanatory (attributional) style across occupation type. In-depth interviews were carried out with 20 professional and managerial workers and with 20 manual workers. Content analysis of verbatim explanations was used to assess e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of stress management 2005-08, Vol.12 (3), p.241-256
Main Author: Henry, Paul C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attribution
Employee Attitudes
Hopelessness
Human
Male
Occupational Stress
Occupations
Stress
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Summary:This study uses hopelessness theory to examine systematic variation in explanatory (attributional) style across occupation type. In-depth interviews were carried out with 20 professional and managerial workers and with 20 manual workers. Content analysis of verbatim explanations was used to assess explanatory style. The group of manual workers was found to exhibit a more pessimistic style. This sets up conditions for hopelessness in the face of stressful events, such as upheaval in the workplace. The implication is that workplace stresses are likely to be viewed by the 2 occupational groups through different perceptual frames. Managers need to consider the particular risk of hopelessness among manual working employees during periods of uncertainty and change.
ISSN:1072-5245
1573-3424
DOI:10.1037/1072-5245.12.3.241