Are core self-evaluations a suitable moderator in stressor-detachment relationships? A study among managers' perceived job demands, detachment and strain reactions.

BACKGROUND: The relationships among job demands, personality factors, recovery and psychological health receive increasing attention but are not well understoodOBJECTIVE:Therefore, the present study tests moderating effects among a sample of managers as proposed by the stressor-detachment model. We aimed to determine whether core self-evaluations (CSE) had an influence on the correlations between detachment and strain reactions (depressive symptoms, irritation, exhaustion) and between job demands and detachment. Further, we tested whether detachment attenuates the positive relation between job demands and strain reactions. METHODS: A convenience sample of managers in three German settings (N = 282) participated in the cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Results based on hierarchical regression analysis showed that high CSE significantly weakened the negative relationship between detachment and depressive symptoms in this sample. However, CSE did not moderate the negative relationship between job demands and detachment. Moreover, results revealed that detachment moderated the positive relation between job demands and exhaustion. CONCLUSIONS: The authors tested whether CSE was able to moderate the relationship between job demands, psychological detachment and different stress reactions. Although we found a significant interaction effect, CSE may be too distal to moderate all respective associations.

[Mental Health Risks Among Managers - Results of a Qualitative Study and Implications for Stress Prevention]. / "Dass ich das ändern muss, damit ich nicht irgendwann kollabiere ".

OBJECTIVE: Research on mental health shows that, compared to employees, managers have a high risk for exhaustion, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. However, the origins and the progress of psychological complaints among managers have not been systematically evaluated to date. Based on a work and health psychological research model, the present study aims to identify health-related risk and protective factors. METHODS: 15 interviews with managers working on different management levels and economic sectors were conducted. Categories of the contents of transcribed interviews were developed. RESULTS: All managers reported psychological complaints, i. e. irritation, detachment problems, exhaustion, fatigue and sleep disturbances. However, a minority of them suffered chronic health problems. Whether psychological complaints persisted and became chronic or not, was associated with several conditions, among others managers' health-related risk perception and self-efficacy, recovery experiences as well as the health culture in the company. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the need for specific prevention strategies. Especially, managers and companies must further increase their awareness for the mental health risks associated with leadership activities.