The Moderating Role of Tolerance Ambiguity in the Stressors-Strain Relationship: An Empirical Study among University Lecturers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Several studies reveal that the workplace is a critical source of stress. Researchers who analyze the relationship between stressors and strain in the context of the workplace have called for the need to examine moderator variables impact on the above relationship. The present study analyzed the relationship between role overload, role conflict, role ambiguity, and strain as well as to study the impact of tolerance ambiguity as a moderator in the relationship between job demands and strain. The structural equation modeling approach was adopted by the study. The sample study comprised of 217 lecturers from the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia and the results show that the tolerance ambiguity significantly moderates the relationship between stress roles namely role conflict but not role overload and role ambiguity with strain. The results also confirmed the direct impact of role overload on strain but not that of role conflict and role ambiguity. The findings, with regards to theory, research and practice and their implications, were also discussed.

Keywords: tolerance ambiguity, stress-strain, academics life, moderating