What makes employees resilient to job demands? : The role of core self-evaluations in the relationship between job demands and strain reactions

Contemporary theory claims that job demands will not lead to negative strain reactions when job related resources are in place as a buffer. In the present article this idea is extended by focusing on person-related resources that are not inherently related to the job, namely core self-evaluations (CSE). This general trait represents an individual's evaluation of self-worth and functioning, and is composed of four accepted personality traits, namely self-esteem, locus of control, general self-efficacy, and emotional stability. The present article tested the idea that CSE functions as a person-related resource and acts as a buffer between job demands and strain reactions. In two studies with samples from separate organizations it was shown that CSE moderated the relationship of job demands (emotional job demands, work load, and shift work) with psychological distress. Results indicate that CSE functions as a personal resource and acts as a buffer between job demands and strain reactions. It is discussed how these results add to contemporary stress models.