Organizational Characteristics as Predictors of Nurses' Psychological Work Reactions
Gladys E.R. Tummers*,
Godefridus G Van Merode,
Jan A. Landeweerd
Maastricht University, The Netherlands
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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Abstract |
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The current study aims to examine effects of organizational characteristics
(decision authority and environmental uncertainty) on nurses' psychological work
reactions(job satisfaction and intrinsic work motivation; burnout and health
complaints). In this context, we were primarily interested in the congruence between
decision authority and environmental uncertainty. The contingency approach of
organizations was used as a leading framework. In order to investigate these
relationships, questionnaires were administered to 1188 nurses working in general
hospitals in the Netherlands. Because the standardization of tasks is expected to be
different between intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs, and consequently, this
difference might influence the effects of organizational characteristics on
psychological work reactions, the relationships were investigated separately for each
type of unit. Correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were used to analyse the
data. From the results of these analyses, it appeared that decision authority has a
positive effect on intrinsic work motivation in both types of unit. In addition to this
additive effect, the congruence between decision authority and environmental uncertainty
was confirmed, but only in ICUs. It appeared that high environmental uncertainty would
enhance the positive effect of decision authority on intrinsic work motivation.
Furthermore, the congruence between decision authority and environmental uncertainty in
the prediction of burnout and psychosomatic health complaints was not confirmed: high
decision authority appeared not to buffer the negative effect of environmental
uncertainty on burnout and health complaints. The results are discussed as well as the
limitations of the study. Suggestions for further research are also given.
Key Words:
contingency approach, congruence, organizational structure, environmental uncertainty, emotional exhaustion, intrinsic work motivation
