Premium
Some consequences of labor–management negotiations: Laboratory and field studies
Author(s) -
Bluen Stephen D.,
JubilerLurie Vanessa G.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of organizational behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.938
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1099-1379
pISSN - 0894-3796
DOI - 10.1002/job.4030110203
Subject(s) - psychology , negotiation , anxiety , hardiness (plants) , personality , social psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , political science , psychiatry , cultivar , horticulture , law , biology
The stress associated with labor‐management negotiations is investigated in two longitudinal studies. In Study 1, changes in anxiety and blood pressure following a simulated negotiation exercise are assessed. The sample consisted of 49 advanced undergraduate Industrial Psychology students, divided into experimental ( n = 24) and control ( n = 25) groups. The experimental group engaged in a simulated labor–management negotiation, whereas the control group participated in a class discussion session. Anxiety and blood pressure levels of both groups were tested before and after the manipulation. Statistically controlling for pretest differences, the experimental group yielded more negative changes in anxiety and blood pressure levels than the control group from pretesting at posttesting. In Study 2, moderators and psychological consequences of participation during in vivo labor–management negotiations were studied. Data were collected from 96 industrial relations (IR) practitioners immediately before negotiations and three months later. Using moderated multiple regression, negatively perceived IR stress predicted negative changes in psychological well‐being. Family support moderated the relationship, while personality hardiness yielded a negative buffering effect on this relationship. Explanations of the findings are discussed and implications for future research are suggested.