Chronic occupational stressors, self-focused attention, and well-being: Testing a cybernetic model of stress

Abstract

By using a cybernetic approach to occupational stress, it was hypothesized that the relationship between chronic work stressors and strain would be stronger among individuals high in private self-consciousness than among individuals low in private self-consciousness. Moderated regression analyses, using a sample of 135 blue-collar workers, revealed strong support for this hypothesis. This finding is antithetical to prior research showing that self-focused attention may buffer the effect of acute life events (B. Mullen and J. Suls [see PA, Vol 68:3591]; J. Suls and B. Fletcher [see PA, Vol 73:21993]). The results of the present study in conjunction with prior research suggest that the type of stressor (acute vs. chronic) examined may be a boundary condition influencing the direction of Stressor × Self-Focused Attention interactions. Implications for future research and stress management are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)