Browsing by Author "Emsley, Lindy"
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- ItemThe social anxiety spectrum and work limitations among managerial level employees(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-12) Emsley, Lindy; Malan, D. J.; Seedat, Soraya; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial PsychologyENGLISH 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.