Stress among Job Insecure Workers and Their Spouses

Questionnaires were collectedfrom 111 couples from staff andfaculty members at a university experiencing a budgetary cutback. Data were examined to study the effects of employee versus spouse of employee status, age, emotional well-being, physical health, number of marrage and family problems, and job stress on general perceived stress. Multiple regression analysis was used to test hypotheses that each of these variables, except employee versus spouse, would predict general stress during a time of perceived job insecurity. Results support each of the hypotheses. Several implications are discussed for family professionals and other practitioners, policymakers, andfor intervention programs to benefit employees and their spouses who are undergoing job insecurity.