Control, information-seeking preferences, occupational stressors and psychological well-being

This study reports a test of the minimax and blunting hypotheses (Miller, 1979a, 1980a, b, 1981). A sample of 221 academic and support staff at a British university were administered a stressor inventory, a measure of psychological well-being, a measure of work-related locus of control and a modified version of the Miller Behavioral Style Scale (1987), which measures information-seeking preferences. Using moderated multiple regression analysis, no support was gained for either hypothesis. However, the results did support a main effects model of perceived control and psychological well-being.