The temporal factor of change in stressor-strain relationships: A growth curve model on a longitudinal study in East Germany

Several theoretical models describing how stressor-strain relationships unfold in time (e.g., M. Frese & D. Zapf, 1988) were tested with a longitudinal study, with 6 measurement waves, using multivariate latent growth curve models. The latent growth curve model made it possible to decompose trait and state components of strains and to show that both trait and state components are affected by work stressors. Because East Germany constitutes a high-change environment, it is an appropriate setting in which to study the relationship between work stressors and strains. The results showed that both the state and trait components of strains were affected by stressors. For example, individual trends in uncertainty (stressor) and worrying (strain) were related, whereas worrying also showed a short-term relationship with time pressure (another stressor). In particular, the decomposition into trait and state components was only possible with the growth curve method that was used.