Content area
Abstract
This study examined role conflict that employees encountered most frequently in the workplace and whether or not they shared similar role conflict experiences with one another. Specifically, this study examined five distinct types of role conflict, the contributing circumstances and situations of those types of role conflict, and the strategies used to cope with a particular type of role conflict. Although previous research has addressed coping strategies for life stress in general and the antecedents and consequences of role conflict, this particular study offers a unique contribution in examining how employees cope with role conflict as one type of work-related stress. Results confirmed the multidimensional nature and frequent occurrence of role conflict experiences in the workplace. Work group context influences the types of coping strategies used by employees. Employees reported certain coping strategies as more or less effective for each particular type of role conflict.
