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Social Identity Perspectives on Stress at Work

Explore how social identity influences stress at work & mental health. Learn how shared group identity impacts coping strategies & social support. Discover critical implications for well-being and organizational behavior through experiments, case studies, and meta-analytical evidence.

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Social Identity Perspectives on Stress at Work

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  1. Rolf van Dick Goethe Universität, Frankfurt Department of Psychology and Center for Leadership and Behavior in Organizations Associazione Italiana di Psicologia Palermo 18 September 2015 Am “I” stressed and can “We” cope? A social identity perspective on stress at work

  2. in collaboration with and a big Thank You to…. Alex Haslam, Jürgen Wegge, Andreas Mojzisch, Jan Häusser, Ullrich Baumann, Oliver Christ, Jolanda Jetten, Tom Postmes, Anne O’Brien, Steve Reicher, Sebastian Schuh, Sonja Rohrmann, Mona Wolf, Johannes Ullrich, Lorenzo Avanzi, Jordi Escartin, Nik Steffens, Johanna Frisch, Ulrich Wagner, Ulrich Baumann, Imeke Goldschmidt…

  3. Overview • The social identity approach • Social identity, well-being and mental health • Hypotheses • Preliminary evidence • Further evidence Experimental data: In the lab Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production Case study data: Well-being in the BBC Prison Study Meta-analytical evidence • Conclusions

  4. The social identity approach • Incorporating principles from social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979, 1986) and self-categorization theory (Turner, 1985; Turner et al., 1987, 1994). • Argues that there is a qualitative difference between behaviour that is based on personal identity (‘I’) and that based on social identity (‘we’).

  5. When a social identity (a social self-category; e.g., ‘us psychologists’, ‘us academics’) becomes salient, this has a number of important implications for social and organizational behaviour (Haslam, 2004; van Dick, 2004). soziale Identität (Academics) The social identity approach • In particular, those who share this identity are more likely to: • perceive themselves as relativelyinterchangeable • engage in mutual influence (because they perceive themselves to have a common perspective on reality) • co-ordinate their behaviour with reference to emergent group norms (e.g., those that define the group as positively distinct from other groups) • work collaboratively to advance the interests of the group as a whole.

  6. The social identity approach • These ideas have implications for a broad range of social and organizational issues (e.g., Haslam, 2004; Haslam et al., 2003; van Dick, 2001, 2004; Riketta & van Dick, 2005). • e.g., leadership, motivation, turnover, productivity (e.g., van Dick et al., 2004a, 2004b, 2007; Ullrich, Christ & van Dick, 2009; Wieseke, Ahearne, Lam, & van Dick, 2009) • e.g., citizenship: To the extent that people define themselves in terms of social identity, they should be more willing to engage in behaviour which promotes the interests of the group to which that identity relates — even if this involves personal cost. (e.g., Christ, van Dick, Wagner, & Stellmacher, 2003; van Dick et al., 2006) • But do they have any implications for well-being and mental health?

  7. primary Personal identity salient Stressful for me? Social identity salient Stressful for us? Social identity, well-being and mental health: Hypotheses (see Haslam & van Dick, 2011; van Dick & Haslam, 2012) • When a shared social identity is salient, this should impact on both primary and secondary appraisal(Lazarus & Folkman, 1984): • Primary appraisal: Is this stressful? To the extent that social identity is salient, answer will be determined by implications of stressor for one’s group rather (just) than one’s personal self.

  8. secondary primary Personal identity salient Stressful for me? Can I cope? Social identity salient social support Can we cope? Stressful for us? Social identity, well-being and mental health: Hypotheses • When a shared social identity is salient, this should impact on both primary and secondary appraisal(Lazarus & Folkman, 1984): • Secondary appraisal: Is it possible to cope? To the extent that social identity is salient, answer will be determined by the resources and condition of one’s ingroup — and the social support it provides — rather than personal self.

  9. Social identity, well-being and mental health: Hypotheses • To the extent that they define themselves in terms of shared group membership, individuals should provide, receive, and benefit from the social support of fellow ingroup members (Branscombe et al., 1999; Postmes & Branscombe, 2002). • Among other things, this is because social identity provides the basis for a shared cognitive framework which means any help will be interpreted in the spirit in which it is intended. This is also associated with identity-based trust (reduced paranoia). • It should also mean that individuals have greater potential for collective self-actualization. This should manifest itself in an enhanced sense of collective accomplishment.

  10. Social identity, stress and mental health: Measurement • When someone praises my organization, it feels like a personal compliment. • When someone criticizes my organization, it feels like a personal insult. • I am very interested in what others think about my organization. • When I talk about my organization, I usually say “we” rather than “they”. • My organization’s successes are my successes. (e.g., Mael & Ashforth, 1992; van Dick et al., 2004; Doosje et al., 2005)

  11. Social identity, well-being and mental health: First (correlational) evidence • Van Dick & Wagner, 2002, 2 studies among German schoolteachers • Study 1 (N=201): organizational identification – physical symptoms: r=-.30 • Study 2 (N=283): occupational identification – physical symptoms: r=-.41; team identification – physical symptoms: r=-.28 • Van Dick at al. (2004; N=459): Employees after an organizational merger showed most negative emotions when pre-merger identification was high and post-merger identification low • Wegge & van Dick (2006; N=161 call center employees): • Org. identification – burnout ( EE: r=-.28; PA: r=.48; DP: r=-.40)

  12. Survey data: Employees’ reports of stress and well-being (Haslam et al., BJSP, 2005) • Is social identification associated with increased social support and does this protect individuals from adverse effects of stress? • Survey of bar workersand bomb disposal experts (N = 40). • Self-report measures • Social identification with workteam (2 items, a = .81) • Social support (3 items, a = .81) • Work stress (5 items, a = .68) • Perceived stress of bomb disposal work (3 items, a = .95) • Perceived stress of bar work (2 items, a = .71)

  13. Survey data: Employees’ reports of stress and well-being (Haslam et al., BJSP, 2005) • Bar workers find handling bombs more stressful than bar work, but bomb handlers report the opposite. • Group membership provides a basis for interpreting and normalizing stress Perceived stressfulness of work

  14. social support Stress .55** -.56** social identification -.47** -.33* Survey data: Employees’ reports of stress and well-being (Haslam et al., BJSP, 2005) • In both groups, social identification is associated with (a) receipt of more social support (b) less stress • Relationship between social identification and well-beingis mediated by social support.

  15. social support Stress .61** -.51** social identification -.33** .04 Survey data: Patients’ reports of stress and well-being post-surgery(Haslam et al., BJSP, 2005) • Social identification is associated with (a) receipt of more social support (b) less stress • Relationship between social identification and well-beingis mediated by social support.

  16. Survey data: 192 Italian high school teachers(Avanzi, Schuh, Fraccaroli, & Van Dick, 2015) • Organizational identification is associated with (a) receipt of more social support from colleagues (b) feelings of higher collective efficacy (c) lower burnout

  17. Family identity and children with liver diseasesSurvey of 45 relatives who donated parts of their livers and medical data from receiving children(Baumann, van Dick et al., in prep.) • Social identification (with ones family) reported by relatives relates to • Social support (reported by relatives) (b) Children’s medical parameters 1. better kidney functions (Kreatinin, r=-.34*) 2. less damaged liver cells (GPT, r=-.32*) 3. better liver performance (Quick, r=-.36*)

  18. Survey data: Reports of stress, support and well-being • The above studies provide data which is consistent with, and helps flesh out, a social identity approach to stress-related issues. • However, like most other research in the field this data is • (a) correlational • (b) cross-sectional, and • (c) based on self-report. • As a result, it doesn’t allow us to disentangle cause and effect, or look at stress, support and well-being as they evolve in the context of developing group dynamics.

  19. Experimental data 1: Students’ appraisal of stress and well-being(Haslam et al., S&H, 2004) • Does social identification affect appraisal? • Modification of classic Lazarus (e.g., 1966) study. • Participants exposed to message that an arithmetic task is challenging or stressful. • But message emanates from person described as either ingroup member (a fellow student), or outgroup member (a stress sufferer). • Outcome measures: • Self-reported stress while performing task (22 items, a = .92).

  20. Experimental data 1: Students’ appraisal of stress and well-being(Haslam et al., S&H, 2004) • Does social identification affect appraisal? • Yes. Appraisal (and associated reaction to a potential stressor) only responds to informational support if this emanates from an ingroup source. Reported stress

  21. Experimental data 2:Call Center Simulation (Wegge, Schuh & van Dick, S&H, 2012) • Does identification buffer against stress? • N=96 experiencedcall-center agentswereinvitedtothelaboratory, completed a questionnaire on theorganizationalidentificationandwerethensubjectedtofakedcustomers in a polite versus unpolitecondition • DV: Changes in Immunoglobulin A levels

  22. Experimental data 2:Call Center Simulation (Wegge, Schuh & van Dick, S&H, 2012) • Does identification buffer against stress?

  23. Experimental data 3:Identity as stress buffer (Häusser, Kattenstroth, van Dick & Mojzisch, JESP, 2012) • Does shared identity buffer against stress? • Students were assigned to one of two conditions in groups with high versus low shared identity • Next, they completed the Trier Social Stress Test: • Giving a job talk to a jury • Counting backwards in steps of 17, starting from 2043 • DV: • Changes in Cortisol levels

  24. Experimental data 3:Identity as stress buffer (Häusser, Kattenstroth, van Dick & Mojzisch, JESP, 2012) • Does shared identity buffer against stress? personal Identity social Identity salivary cortisol (nmol/l) -15 min + 5 min + 20 min + 30 min + 40 min

  25. Experimental data 4:Identity as stress buffer (Frisch, Häusser, van Dick & Mojzisch, 2014) • Does shared identity helps utilize social support? non-supportive supportive

  26. Experimental data 4:Identity as stress buffer (Frisch, Häusser, van Dick & Mojzisch, 2014) • Does shared identity helps utilize social support? non-supportive supportive

  27. Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production(Haslam et al., S&H, 2009) • Is social identification associated with reduced burnout and does this contribute to the long-term impact of stress? • Five-phase study of theatre production staff(N = 30). • Self-report measures: • Social identification with production (3 items, mean a = .86) • Burnout (5 items, mean a = .62) • Organizational citizenship (3 items, mean a = .82)

  28. Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production(Haslam et al., S&H, 2009) • Self-report measures • Examined as a function of social identification (high, low) on five occasions: • (1) after audition • (2) mid-rehearsal • (3) after dress rehearsal • (4) after final production • (5) two weeks after the final production

  29. Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production(Haslam et al., S&H, 2009) • Social identification is relatively enduring

  30. Low identifiers experience more burnout during critical phases of production (dress rehearsal, first performance). Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production(Haslam et al., S&H, 2009)

  31. Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production(Haslam et al., S&H, 2009) • Social identification is predictive of long-term citizenship

  32. citizenship (T5) –.40* .24 Longitudinal data: Stress in a theatre production(Haslam et al., S&H, 2009) • Longitudinal design allows us to look at unfolding relationship between social identification, burnout and long- term well-being burnout (T3,4) –.39** social identification (T1) .39** • Social identification has positive impact on long-term citizenshipbecause it protects group members from burnout during critical phases of group activity

  33. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • One study with unique potential was conducted in 2001 with the BBC: The BBC Prison Study • This was designed as an intensive examination of group dynamics, and involved studying the behaviour of normal healthy volunteers after they had been randomly assigned to be either Prisoners or Guards in a simulated prison. • Provides opportunity for an integrated analysis of social, organizational and clinical issues(Haslam & Reicher, SciAmMind, 2005, BJSP, 2006, JAP, 2006; Reicher & Haslam, Psychologist, 2006a, BJSP, 2006b; Reicher, Haslam, Hopkins, LQ, 2005).

  34. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • More specifically, the study was designed to test predictions concerning • (a) the conditions under which people would define themselves in terms of social identity • (b) the consequences of this for social, clinical and organizational functioning • The study lasted 8 days. Observational data (800+ hrs of film footage), physiological and psychological data related to 60+ key social, clinical and organizational states.

  35. Day 1 — boundaries permeable (possible to be promoted from Prisoner to Guard). Prisoners should act as individuals and maintain status quo. 1 2 • Day 3 — boundaries impermeable (not possible to be promoted from Prisoner to Guard). Prisoners should act more as a group. 3 • Day 5 — exposure to cognitive alternatives (introduce trade unionist as new Prisoner). Prisoners should act more as a group and challenge status quo. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • Over the course of the study Haslam et al. manipulated factors that SIT predicts should encourage members of low-status groups (Prisoners) to act in terms of social identity and resist inequality (Tajfel & Turner, 1979)

  36. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • As predicted, these manipulations led to an increase in the Prisoners’ social identity over time. Social identification

  37. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • As predicted, these manipulations did lead to an increase in the Prisoners’ social identity over time. • Moreover, as their sense of shared social identity increased, the Prisoners started to resist the Guards’ authority (seen on measures of compliance and organizational citizenship). • Their resistance ultimately culminated in a breakout which made the Guards’ regime collapse.

  38. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • In the face of the Prisoners’ increasing power, the Guards became apprehensive about their own power and authority. • This, combined with the Prisoners’ insurrection, contributed to a steady decline in their sense of shared social identity. Social identification

  39. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • What were the consequences of these emergent dynamics for participants’ well-being and mental health? • Depression of prisoners reduces as social identity increases • Depression of guards increases as social identity declines Clinical Depression

  40. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • Stress of guards increases as social identity declines Cortisol in saliva (√g/10ml)

  41. Case study data:Well-being in the BBC Prison Study (Haslam & Reicher, JAP, 2006) • Burnout of guards (esp. callousness and sense of lack of accomplishment) increases as social identity declines and group fails Burnout

  42. Meta-analytical evidence (Steffens, Schuh, Haslam, Jetten, & van Dick, in prep.) • Organizational Identification – stress, health, well-being, burnout: • 42 independent samples, 63 effect sizes, N = 16.297

  43. Meta-analytical evidence (Steffens, Schuh, Haslam, Jetten, & van Dick, in prep.) • OI: r = .23, 95%CIs: [.18, .27] - Fail safe N= 222

  44. Conclusions • Considered together, these studies provide diverse and vivid evidence that social identity processes are central to the dynamics of well-being in social and organizational contexts. • Shared social identity provides a basis for group members to give and receive social support and to derive feelings of collective accomplishment from working collectively to overcome and remove stressors. • On the other hand, lack orloss of social identity increases the likelihood of paranoia (reflecting lack of trust and support), disrespectful treatment (bullying), negative reaction to stressors, burnout and depression.

  45. Potential downsides • When social identity is salient, individuals’ desire to contribute to the group and to live up to, and enforce, group norms may mean they are willing to compromise personal well-being (e.g., leading to exhaustion; see Avanzi, van Dick, Fraccaroli & Sarchielli, W&S, 2012). • … and the well-being of others who don’t embody group norms (e.g. bullying of outgroup and ingroup members (see: Ullrich, Escartin, Schlüter, Zapf, & van Dick, EJWOP, 2013). • If groups fail to achieve ingroup-defining goals, this may also be particularly stressful for those who identify strongly with them.

  46. Conclusions • It is worth noting that our analyses go against dominant psychological approaches which are profoundly individualistic. • For example, these see stress as a personal response to a particular stimulus situation, and hence • best predicted by personality (hence massive literature on Type A; hardiness, coping styles, etc.) and • best treated by individual-level responses (e.g., cognitive restructuring, relaxation therapy, stress counselling). We believe, however, that social identity-based group viability is central to well-being — it plays a key role in determining whether stressors change us (through avoidance or denial) or we try to change them (through resistance).

  47. Molte grazie!

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