Job Stress, Job Performance, and Auditor Personality Characteristics.

This research investigated the determinants and consequences of stress in the auditing profession. In contrast to previous studies, which have focused exclusively on non-personality variables, study one examined personality dispositions as potential determinants of stress. A significant positive relationship was found between job stress and Type A personality, while control, commitment, and challenge personality dispositions were negatively related to job stress. Study two investigated the relationship of stress to auditors' job performance. While an inverted U-shape function between stress and job performance is often assumed, past research provides scanty and inconclusive results about this theoretical assumption in business settings. Study two presents empirical evidence on the relationship between these two important variables. Results support the presence of an inverted U relationship between stress and job performance in the auditing profession.