Stress appraisals, resilience, and psychological distress among individuals experiencing involuntary job loss in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Zulkifly, Nurul Izzati Asyikin, Hussin, Ruhaya, Alwi, Azlin
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/68247/9/Stress%20Appraisals%2C%20Resilience%2C%20and%20Psychological%20.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/68247/3/International%20Islamic%20University%20Malaysia%20Mail%20-%20%5BJBS%5D%20Submission%20Acknowledgement.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/68247/; https://www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/index

The present study aims to (i) investigate the relationship between stress appraisals, resilience, and psychological distress among individuals experiencing involuntary job loss in Malaysia and (ii) examine the moderating effect of resilience in the relationship between stress appraisals and psychological distress. It was hypothesised that stress appraisals, resilience, and psychological distress are correlated with one another. Additionally, it was hypothesised that resilience moderates the relationship between stress appraisals and psychological distress. A cross-sectional survey design was used, in which data was collected by using self-report questionnaires. A total of 229 participants who were laid off and unemployed within one month to three years were approached by using snowball and convenient sampling techniques. Results from hierarchical multiple regression indicate that stress appraisals and resilience are correlated with psychological distress. It was also found that resilience moderates the relationship between stress appraisals and psychological distress. The results support the relationship between stress appraisals, resilience, and psychological distress, and resilience as a moderator between stress appraisals and psychological distress. This paper discusses the research findings within Malaysian context, as well as highlighting the limitations of the present study and recommendations for future research.