ABSTRACT
Work plays a very important symbolic role in the lives of most people in our society. Being employed not only entails making a living but implies that one is part of a social network and participates in society as a whole. Even more important, the work sphere is the main area of life in which people may attain prestige, recognition, and self-esteem. Precisely because of this central place of work in life, work can be very frustrating and upsetting when people do not obtain the goals they have set for themselves. There is an extensive literature snowing that the work situation can contain a variety of stressors, including lack of career prospects, lack of control, time pressure, role ambiguity, uncertainty about the future, and interpersonal conflicts (see, e.g., Cooper & Payne, 1988; Karasek & Theorell, 1990), and that the impact of such stressors on well-being can be rather serious. Job stress may affect mental health and may lead to burnout, depression, and psychosomatic complaints (e.g., Fletcher, 1988; Schaufeli & Buunk, 1986; Warr, 1987). It may affect physical health, in particular coronary heart disease (e.g., Marmot, 1994; Siegrist & Peter, 1994), and may in general lead to sick leaves and disability (e.g., Kompier et al., 1990).
