Title: Modelling the role of personal factors as mediators in the relationship between workplace stress, motivation and job performance among Irish retail employees

Authors: Charles John McGuigan; Karen McGuigan; Maria McGuigan; Mark Shevlin; John Mallett; Anne Tracey

Addresses: NorthWest Research NI, Cashelmore Park, Londonderry, BT48 ORU, North Ireland ' NorthWest Research NI, Cashelmore Park, Londonderry, BT48 ORU, North Ireland ' NorthWest Research NI, Cashelmore Park, Londonderry, BT48 ORU, North Ireland ' Psychology Research Institute, School of Psychology, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Room MB 211, Londonderry, BT48 7JL, North Ireland ' Psychology Research Institute, School of Psychology, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Room MB 204, Londonderry, BT48 7JL, North Ireland ' School of Psychology, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Room MB 018, Londonderry, BT48 7JL, North Ireland

Abstract: This study explores the mediating role of personal factors in the relationship between workplace stress, motivation and performance to elucidate the mechanisms through which workplace factors affect job performance. Irish retail employees (N = 420) completed measures of workplace stress, motivation, job satisfaction, innovation, coping, resilience and job performance. Three alternative models were specified with the relationship between workplace factors and job performance described as either: 1) direct only; 2) indirect only; 3) both direct and indirect. Model fit for each was assessed with the indirect only model the best fit. Results show a significant indirect effect of workplace stress on job performance through task orientated coping (β = 0.030, p < 0.05), and significant indirect effects of work motivation on job performance through innovation (β = 0.046, p > 0.05) and task orientated coping (β = 0.021, p < 0.05). The findings offer insight into the mechanisms by which workplace factors impact longer-term job performance.

Keywords: job performance; indigenous retailers; SMEs in Ireland; mediation; statistical modelling; workplace factors; personal factors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2018.095507

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2018 Vol.21 No.3, pp.426 - 450

Received: 05 Dec 2016
Accepted: 01 Jan 2018
Published online: 08 Oct 2018 *

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