RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSON ENVIRONMENT FIT AND STRESS IN RESIDENT ASSISTANT PERSONNEL (PERSONAL PROFILE SYSTEM).

摘要

The present study investigated the relationship between person-environment fit and occupational stress among 87 resident and minority assistants at the University of Arkansas. Person-environment fit was assessed on commensurate dimensions of behavioral style using the Personal Profile System as the person measure and the Job Factor Analysis System as the environment or job measure. Deductions from person-environment fit theory were used to develop hypotheses about the relationship between behavioral and occupational stress. The following five hypotheses were generated: (1) Person-job fit measures will be related to psychological and behavioral measures of occupational stress; (2) The person-job fit measures will account for more variance on the psychological and behavioral measures of stress than either the person or environment measure alone; (3) Individuals with different behavioral styles as indicated by person-job fit measures will experience different types of occupational stress; (4) Individuals with different perceptions of the job as indicated by behavioral styles will experience different types of occupational stress; and (5) Individuals with different types of behavioral styles will experience different types of occupational stress.; A fit score was computed for each subject using the discrepancy method. The person-environment fit measures were correlated with a behavioral measure of occupational stress, the Wellness Check Questionnaire and a psychological measure of occupational stress, the Resident Assistant Stress Inventory. The participants were also grouped into behavioral styles based on scores from the person measure, the environment measure, and the person-environment fit measure. Differences between behavioral styles on the Wellness Check Questionnaire and on the Residential Assistant Stress Inventory were assessed by the use of analysis of variance techniques.; The results indicate that person-environment fit measures are not related to occupational stress when behavioral style is used as the match variable. The relationship between person-environment fit and occupational stress may depend on what class of variables are used to determine fit. The results, moreover, suggest that behavioral style as a person measure may be helpful in understanding the perception of occupational stress. In addition to providing implications for person-environment fit and its relationship to occupational stress, the results also provide evidence that supports the construct validity of the Personal Profile System.