Interactive Relationships Among Multiple Dimensions of Professional Commitment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the main and interactive effects of four dimensions of professional commitment on strain (i.e., depression, anxiety, perceived health status, and job dissatisfaction) for a sample of 176 law professionals. The study utilized a two-wave design in which professional commitment and strain were measured at Time 1 and strain was measured again at Time 2 (T2), 2 months later. A significant two-way interaction indicated that high affective commitment was related to less T2 job dissatisfaction only for lawyers with low accumulated costs. A significant fourway interaction indicated that high affective professional commitment was only related to fewer symptoms of T2 anxiety for lawyers with high normative professional commitment and both low limited alternatives and accumulated costs. A similar pattern of results emerged in regard to T2 perceived health status. The theoretical and practical implications of these results for career counselors are discussed.

Occupational stress management in the legal profession: Development, validation, and assessment of a stress‐management instrument

“…Although unexpected, other reports of non-significant direct effects between job demands and psychological strain have been reported. We do also recognise, however, that other research has reported significant associations between generic measures of job demands and psychological strain with samples of lawyers (e.g., Bergin & Jimmieson, 2015). This reasoning is supported by research which has included lawyer-specific assessments of job demands (e.g., interpersonal challenges, bullying, and excessive billing targets) and reported significant associations between these job demands and psychological strain (Omari & Paull, 2013;Tsai, Huang, & Chan, 2009).…”

“…We acknowledge that such lawyer-specific assessments of job demands would have been valuable to include in the current research. We do also recognise, however, that other research has reported significant associations between generic measures of job demands and psychological strain with samples of lawyers (e.g., Bergin & Jimmieson, 2015). Clearly, lawyers similar to many other professions, experience both generic and specific job demands.…”

#Trending topics in careers: a review and future research agenda

“…Akkermans, Brenninkmeijer, Van den Bossche, Blonk and Schaufeli, 2013;Van den Tooren and De Jong, 2014), occupational stress (e.g. Bergin and Jimmieson, 2015;Stoltz et al, 2013), work engagement (e.g. Hu et al, 2013;Ouweneel et al, 2013), burnout and exhaustion (e.g.…”

Lifelong career mobility and change options in knowledge occupations: career pathway implications of initial degree choices

“…In particular, the female law graduate felt totally unprepared to cope with the emotional and physical workload of family law practice, to the extent that her level of distress necessitated the disjunctive move. Stress in lawyers and law students is a recognised concern for the profession, and previous research has suggested that law schools have a role in properly preparing and supporting students (Bergin & Jimmieson, 2015;Field, Duffy, & Huggins, 2013;Sugarman, 2014).…”

“…Their dissatisfaction stemmed from employment issues including limited availability of employment and consequently poor job security (Carless & Arnup, 2011), dislike of the work (Borghans & Golsteyn, 2007), work-related stress, and moral issues (Bergin & Jimmieson, 2015;Minten & Forsyth, 2014).…”