The Role of Task Complexity as a Moderator of the Stress and Coping Process

Abstract

This study examined the relevance of task complexity as a moderator of the stress and coping process for a sample of 173 museum store managers. Four categories of coping responses were developed: active cognitive, active behavioral, cognitive avoidant, and behavioral avoidant. Results showed that task complexity moderated the relationship that coping had with some individual and environmental antecedents as well as work outcomes. Relationships were generally stronger for simple than complex tasks.