Job Stress and Employee Behaviour: The Moderating Role Of Social Support Among Staff of College of Distance Education at the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between job stress and employee behaviour: the moderating role of social support amongst the staff of the College of Distance Education (CoDE) at the University of Cape Coast. Utilizing a comprehensive survey, the research examines how different types of social support: emotional, informational, and instrumental moderate the effects of job stress on proactive and counterproductive workplace behaviours. The study adopted a positivist philosophy, and the quantitative data was gathered using a sample of 150 employees out of the total population of 240 employees. The partial least square structural equation modelling technique was used to analyse the main objectives of this study using SMART PLSEM. The findings reveal a weak, non-significant negative relationship between job stress and employee behaviour, suggesting that job stress alone does not directly influence employee actions but other factors like workloads, work pressures and role ambiguity. However, a strong positive correlation was found between social support and employee behaviour, indicating that high levels of social support led to improved performance, job satisfaction, and reduced counterproductive behaviours. Emotional and informational support significantly buffer the negative impacts of job stress, promoting positive employee behaviour, while instrumental support showed a relatively insignificant effect. The study's implications emphasize the need for the College of Distance Education to integrate holistic support strategies to effectively manage employee stress and enhance overall workplace behaviour.