Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social anxiety symptoms are common within the community. They are often
unrecognised in many organisations, with resultant significant work
impairments. The aim of the study was to explore to what extent the social
anxiety spectrum of symptoms influences the performance of management
employees and how the disorder should be managed in the workplace. The
study includes the following constructs: social anxiety spectrum, job
characteristics, work limitations and perceived performance difficulties. A nonexperimental
research design was used to explore the relationships between the
four constructs.
A convenience sample of 250 managerial employees was approached from two
large organizations, one in the private, and the other in the public sector. One
hundred and eighteen (118) respondents completed and returned their
questionnaires.
The descriptive statistics reflected a mean age of 32 years (range 20 to 56
years), with 50% males and 50% females, and a race distribution of 64% White,
29% Coloured, 4% Black and 3% Indian for the sample. The majority of the
participants had been working for 0 to 5 years (37.29%). The mean years
worked was 10.81 and the median 9.5 (range 0.5 to 40 years worked).
A high percentage of participants (11%) were found to have social anxiety
symptoms above the cut off score for a diagnosis of the disorder. The results of
the present study indicated that social anxiety affects all areas of work. These
symptoms were associated with several areas of work limitations and
performance difficulties not restricted to social interaction or presentation.
It was also found that job insecurity increases social anxiety symptoms, work
limitations and perceived performance difficulties. On the other hand, it was
found that organisational support may act as a buffer against demands and may
decrease work limitations and perceived performance difficulties. Whilst no
moderating effect was found for growth opportunities in the relationship between
social anxiety and work limitations, support was found for a negative relationship
with both social anxiety and work limitations. No moderating effect was found
for job insecurity in the relationship between social anxiety and work limitations.
However, growth opportunities as a resource were found to moderate the
relationship between social anxiety symptoms and perceived performance
difficulties. Evidence was also found for the moderating effect of job insecurity in
the relationship between social anxiety symptoms and perceived performance
difficulties. The limitations of the current study and recommendations for
organisations are discussed. This study highlights the importance of social
anxiety symptoms as a barrier to effective work performance. Given the fact that
interventions can potentially improve social anxiety and thereby performance,
this area deserves much greater research attention. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sosiale angssimptome kom algemeen in die gemeenskap voor. Die simptome
word nie alledaags in organisaies herken nie, en mag tot merkbaar verlaagde
prestasie lei. Die doel van die studie was om die mate waartoe sosiale
angsspektrum-simptome die prestasie van bestuursvlak-werknemers beïnvloed
te bepaal en ondersoek in te stel na wyses waarop die simptome in organisasies
bestuur moet word. Die studie het die volgende konstrukte ingesluit: sosiale
angsspektrum-simptome, werkseienskappe, werksbeperkinge en waargenome
prestasie-uitdagings. Daar is van ’n nie-eksperimentele navorsingsontwerp
gebruik gemaak om die verhoudings tussen die vier konstrukte te bestudeer.
’n Gerieflikheidsteekproef van 250 bestuursvlak-werknemers van beide ’n
privaatsektor en publieke sektor organisasie is genader. Eenhonderd en agtien
voltooide vraelyste is ingedien. Die beskrywende statistiek het ’n gemiddelde
ouderdom van 32 jaar getoon (versprei oor 20 tot 56 jaar), met 50% manlik, 50%
vroulik, en ’n rasverspreiding van 64% wit, 29% kleurling, 4% swart en 3% Indiër
respondente in die steekproef.
Die meerderheid van die deelnemers het vorige werkservaring van 0 tot 5 jaar
(37.29%) aangedui. Die gemiddelde aantal jare van werk was 10.81 en die
mediaan 9.5 (versprei oor 0.5 tot 40 jaar gewerk).
‘n Hoë voorkomssyfer (11%) van sosiale angs is in die studie gevind, bo die
afsnypunt vir die diagnose van die versteuring. Die resultate van die huidige
studie dui aan dat sosiale angs alle aspekte van werk beïnvloed. Hierdie
simptome was geassosieer met vele areas van werksbeperkings en
waargenome prestasie-uitdagings en was nie slegs tot take wat sosiale
interaksie en voordragte insluit, beperk nie.
Die studie het ook gevind dat werksonsekerheid sosiale angssimptome,
werksbeperkings en waargenome prestasie-uitdagings verhoog. Organisasieondersteuning
is aangedui as ‘n moontlike buffer teen werkseise en mag
werksbeperkings en waargenome prestasie-uitdagings verminder. Geen
modereringseffek is vir groeigeleenthede gevind in die verhouding tussen sosiale
angs en werksbeperkings nie, maar daar is wel gevind dat groeigeleenthede ’n
negatiewe verband met beide sosiale angs en werksbeperkings het. Geen
modereringseffek vir werksonsekerheid in die verhouding tussen sosiale angs en
werksbeperkinge is gevind nie.
Die rol van groeigeleenthede as hulpbron om die verhouding tussen sosiale
angssimptome en waargenome prestasie-uitdagings te modereer, is bevestig.
Getuienis is ook vir die modereringseffek van werksonsekerheid in die
verhouding tussen sosiale angssimptome en waargenome prestasie-uitdagings
gevind. Die beperkinge van die huidige studie en voorstelle vir organisasies
word bespreek.
Hierdie studie bekemtoon die belangrikheid van sosiale angssimptome as ’n
hindernis met betrekking tot effektiewe werksprestasie. Ingrepe kan potensiaal
sosiale angs verminder en daardeur prestasie verhoog. Hierdie aspek behoort
heelwat meer navorsingsaandag in die toekoms te geniet.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5321 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Emsley, Lindy |
| Contributors | Malan, D. J., Seedat, S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 160 p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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