Stressing Out about Dissent: Examining the Relationship Between Coping Strategies and Dissent Expression

This study examined how coping strategies related to dissent expression. A sample of full-time employees from various organizations completed a survey questionnaire reporting about their use of emotion-focused coping strategies and how they expressed dissent. Findings indicated that coping strategies did significantly associate with upward, lateral, and displaced dissent. In particular, disengagement and denial coping strategies related to upward dissent expressed to management, disengagement and venting coping strategies related to lateral dissent shared with coworkers, and denial and venting coping strategies related to displaced dissent directed to nonwork friends and family members.