Safâa Achnak | Vrije Universiteit Brussel (original) (raw)

Papers by Safâa Achnak

Research paper thumbnail of Examining how different social account timings influence stress resolution in the aftermath of a psychological contract breach

Scientific Reports

A great deal of empirical research on the consequences of a psychological contract breach (PCB) h... more A great deal of empirical research on the consequences of a psychological contract breach (PCB) has overlooked the role of time in understanding individuals’ reactions to a PCB. Moreover, psychological contract research primarily focuses on how employees react to perceptions of a PCB, while questions regarding how the organization’s responsiveness (i.e., social account) might impact these reactions remain unanswered. We aimed to enhance the understanding of stress reactions and recovery that are triggered by PCB perceptions and stimulate empirical research that treats psychological contracts as a dynamic phenomenon. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, we investigated how social account delivery timing—and its subjective experience—influences individuals’ stress resolution processes in the aftermath of a PCB. To this end, we used an experimental design and assessed participants’ physiological (i.e., heart rate) and psychological (i.e., self-report) stress reactions after...

Research paper thumbnail of The role of emotion regulation strategies in the unfolding relationships between psychological contract breach, violation and organizational citizenship behavior

17th congress of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, May 20, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Examining stress reactions following psychological contract breach perceptions

2016 Biannual Psychological Contract Meeting, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of How exchanges in employee-employer psychological contracts relate to career changes

Research paper thumbnail of The role of time and timing in psychological contract research

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological contracts: back to the future

Handbook of Research on the Psychological Contract at Work, 2019

The different contributions made to this edited book illustrate that the study of psychological c... more The different contributions made to this edited book illustrate that the study of psychological contracts has offered critical scholarly and practical insights into the functional and dysfunctional aspects of the employment relationship for several decades. However, as with other fields of research, it behooves the psychological contract field to pause periodically, take stock, explore gaps, and identify new research streams to maintain and expand its impact upon scholarship and practice. An edited book like this offers a good opportunity to see how far we have come with the psychological contract and where the challenges lie ahead. In the chapter, the authors identify and develop three key areas that promise to enrich psychological contract research: 1) time; 2) social context; and 3) the changing nature of work. For each of these key areas, they formulate promising future research questions.

Research paper thumbnail of Do individuals combine different coping strategies to manage their stress in the aftermath of psychological contract breach over time? A longitudinal study

Journal of Vocational Behavior

Research paper thumbnail of Do individuals combine different coping strategies to manage their stress in the aftermath of psychological contract breach over time? A longitudinal study (Article accepted for publication by the Journal of Vocational Behavior)

This study examines the dynamic interaction between perceptions of psychological contract breach ... more This study examines the dynamic interaction between perceptions of psychological contract breach (PCB), negative emotions, and stress over time. Additionally, we determine if individuals could be differentiated based on coping profiles, and further assessed whether emotional and stress reactions to PCB over time varied as a function of these profiles. Using a longitudinal design, a sample of 1077 employees working in various industries completed a monthly questionnaire for six consecutive months reporting their perceptions of PCB, negative emotions, stress reactions, and ensuing coping mechanisms. Results from the latent growth analysis revealed that individuals confronted with increasing levels of PCB over time reported growing stress following their escalating negative emotions. Moreover, the latent profile analysis of coping performed in two randomly selected subgroups revealed that there were three coping profiles within our sample (i.e., low copers, average-problem-focused cope...

Research paper thumbnail of To deny, to justify, or to apologize: Do social accounts influence stress levels in the aftermath of psychological contract breach?

BMC Psychology

Background Workplace stress carries considerable costs for the employees’ wellbeing and for the o... more Background Workplace stress carries considerable costs for the employees’ wellbeing and for the organization’s performance. Recent studies demonstrate that perceptions of psychological contract breach are a source of stress for employees. That is, when employees notice that their employer does not fulfil certain obligations, they will perceive that certain resources are threatened or lost, which in turn translates into increased stress. In this study, we zoom in on how stress unfolds in the aftermath of breach, dependent on the organization’s reaction to the breach. More specifically, we examined the influence of different types of social accounts (i.e., denial, apology, blaming and exonerating justification) on individuals’ stress resolution process using physiological (i.e., heart rate) and psychological (self-report) data. Method We used an experimental design in which we manipulated psychological contract breach and social account type. To test our hypotheses, we performed two s...

Research paper thumbnail of I Am So Tired… How Fatigue May Exacerbate Stress Reactions to Psychological Contract Breach

Frontiers in Psychology

Previous research showed that perceptions of psychological contract (PC) breach have undesirable ... more Previous research showed that perceptions of psychological contract (PC) breach have undesirable individual and organizational consequences. Surprisingly, the PC literature has paid little to no attention to the relationship between PC breach perceptions and stress. A better understanding of how PC breach may elicit stress seems crucial, given that stress plays a key role in employees' physical and mental well-being. Based on Conservation of Resources Theory, we suggest that PC breach perceptions represent a perceived loss of valued resources, subsequently leading employees to experience higher stress levels resulting from emerging negative emotions. Moreover, we suggest that this mediated relationship is moderated by initial levels of fatigue, due to fatigue lowering the personal resources necessary to cope with breach events. To tests our hypotheses, we analyzed the multilevel data we obtained from two experience sampling designs (Study 1: 51 Belgian employees; Study 2: 53 US employees). Note that the unit of analysis is "observations" rather than "respondents," resulting in an effective sample size of 730 (Study 1) and 374 (Study 2) observations. In both studies, we found evidence for the mediating role of negative emotions in the PC breach-stress relationship. In the second study, we also found evidence for the moderating role of fatigue in the mediated PC breach-stress relationship. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Manifesto for the future of work and organizational psychology

European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Org... more This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Organizational Psychology. The manifesto is the result of an emerging movement around the Future of WOP (see www. futureofwop.com), which aims to bring together WOP-scholars committed to actively contribute to building a better future for our field. Our recommendations are intended to support both individuals and collectives to become actively engaged in co-creating the future of WOP together with us. Therefore, this manifesto is open and never "finished." It should continuously evolve, based on an ongoing debate around our professional values and behavior. This manifesto is meant, first of all, for ourselves as an academic community. Furthermore, it is also important for managers, decision makers, and other stakeholders and interested parties, such as students, governments and organizations, as we envision what the future of WOP could look like, and it is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to realize a sustainable future for all of us. ARTICLE HISTORY Future; academic system; work and organizational psychology; organizational behavior; manifesto EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY https://doi.(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

Research paper thumbnail of Manifesto for the future of work and organizational psychology

European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Org... more This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Organizational Psychology. The manifesto is the result of an emerging movement around the Future of WOP (see www. futureofwop.com), which aims to bring together WOP-scholars committed to actively contribute to building a better future for our field. Our recommendations are intended to support both individuals and collectives to become actively engaged in co-creating the future of WOP together with us. Therefore, this manifesto is open and never "finished." It should continuously evolve, based on an ongoing debate around our professional values and behavior. This manifesto is meant, first of all, for ourselves as an academic community. Furthermore, it is also important for managers, decision makers, and other stakeholders and interested parties, such as students, governments and organizations, as we envision what the future of WOP could look like, and it is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to realize a sustainable future for all of us. ARTICLE HISTORY Future; academic system; work and organizational psychology; organizational behavior; manifesto EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY https://doi.(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

Research paper thumbnail of Examining how different social account timings influence stress resolution in the aftermath of a psychological contract breach

Scientific Reports

A great deal of empirical research on the consequences of a psychological contract breach (PCB) h... more A great deal of empirical research on the consequences of a psychological contract breach (PCB) has overlooked the role of time in understanding individuals’ reactions to a PCB. Moreover, psychological contract research primarily focuses on how employees react to perceptions of a PCB, while questions regarding how the organization’s responsiveness (i.e., social account) might impact these reactions remain unanswered. We aimed to enhance the understanding of stress reactions and recovery that are triggered by PCB perceptions and stimulate empirical research that treats psychological contracts as a dynamic phenomenon. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, we investigated how social account delivery timing—and its subjective experience—influences individuals’ stress resolution processes in the aftermath of a PCB. To this end, we used an experimental design and assessed participants’ physiological (i.e., heart rate) and psychological (i.e., self-report) stress reactions after...

Research paper thumbnail of The role of emotion regulation strategies in the unfolding relationships between psychological contract breach, violation and organizational citizenship behavior

17th congress of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, May 20, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Examining stress reactions following psychological contract breach perceptions

2016 Biannual Psychological Contract Meeting, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of How exchanges in employee-employer psychological contracts relate to career changes

Research paper thumbnail of The role of time and timing in psychological contract research

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological contracts: back to the future

Handbook of Research on the Psychological Contract at Work, 2019

The different contributions made to this edited book illustrate that the study of psychological c... more The different contributions made to this edited book illustrate that the study of psychological contracts has offered critical scholarly and practical insights into the functional and dysfunctional aspects of the employment relationship for several decades. However, as with other fields of research, it behooves the psychological contract field to pause periodically, take stock, explore gaps, and identify new research streams to maintain and expand its impact upon scholarship and practice. An edited book like this offers a good opportunity to see how far we have come with the psychological contract and where the challenges lie ahead. In the chapter, the authors identify and develop three key areas that promise to enrich psychological contract research: 1) time; 2) social context; and 3) the changing nature of work. For each of these key areas, they formulate promising future research questions.

Research paper thumbnail of Do individuals combine different coping strategies to manage their stress in the aftermath of psychological contract breach over time? A longitudinal study

Journal of Vocational Behavior

Research paper thumbnail of Do individuals combine different coping strategies to manage their stress in the aftermath of psychological contract breach over time? A longitudinal study (Article accepted for publication by the Journal of Vocational Behavior)

This study examines the dynamic interaction between perceptions of psychological contract breach ... more This study examines the dynamic interaction between perceptions of psychological contract breach (PCB), negative emotions, and stress over time. Additionally, we determine if individuals could be differentiated based on coping profiles, and further assessed whether emotional and stress reactions to PCB over time varied as a function of these profiles. Using a longitudinal design, a sample of 1077 employees working in various industries completed a monthly questionnaire for six consecutive months reporting their perceptions of PCB, negative emotions, stress reactions, and ensuing coping mechanisms. Results from the latent growth analysis revealed that individuals confronted with increasing levels of PCB over time reported growing stress following their escalating negative emotions. Moreover, the latent profile analysis of coping performed in two randomly selected subgroups revealed that there were three coping profiles within our sample (i.e., low copers, average-problem-focused cope...

Research paper thumbnail of To deny, to justify, or to apologize: Do social accounts influence stress levels in the aftermath of psychological contract breach?

BMC Psychology

Background Workplace stress carries considerable costs for the employees’ wellbeing and for the o... more Background Workplace stress carries considerable costs for the employees’ wellbeing and for the organization’s performance. Recent studies demonstrate that perceptions of psychological contract breach are a source of stress for employees. That is, when employees notice that their employer does not fulfil certain obligations, they will perceive that certain resources are threatened or lost, which in turn translates into increased stress. In this study, we zoom in on how stress unfolds in the aftermath of breach, dependent on the organization’s reaction to the breach. More specifically, we examined the influence of different types of social accounts (i.e., denial, apology, blaming and exonerating justification) on individuals’ stress resolution process using physiological (i.e., heart rate) and psychological (self-report) data. Method We used an experimental design in which we manipulated psychological contract breach and social account type. To test our hypotheses, we performed two s...

Research paper thumbnail of I Am So Tired… How Fatigue May Exacerbate Stress Reactions to Psychological Contract Breach

Frontiers in Psychology

Previous research showed that perceptions of psychological contract (PC) breach have undesirable ... more Previous research showed that perceptions of psychological contract (PC) breach have undesirable individual and organizational consequences. Surprisingly, the PC literature has paid little to no attention to the relationship between PC breach perceptions and stress. A better understanding of how PC breach may elicit stress seems crucial, given that stress plays a key role in employees' physical and mental well-being. Based on Conservation of Resources Theory, we suggest that PC breach perceptions represent a perceived loss of valued resources, subsequently leading employees to experience higher stress levels resulting from emerging negative emotions. Moreover, we suggest that this mediated relationship is moderated by initial levels of fatigue, due to fatigue lowering the personal resources necessary to cope with breach events. To tests our hypotheses, we analyzed the multilevel data we obtained from two experience sampling designs (Study 1: 51 Belgian employees; Study 2: 53 US employees). Note that the unit of analysis is "observations" rather than "respondents," resulting in an effective sample size of 730 (Study 1) and 374 (Study 2) observations. In both studies, we found evidence for the mediating role of negative emotions in the PC breach-stress relationship. In the second study, we also found evidence for the moderating role of fatigue in the mediated PC breach-stress relationship. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Manifesto for the future of work and organizational psychology

European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Org... more This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Organizational Psychology. The manifesto is the result of an emerging movement around the Future of WOP (see www. futureofwop.com), which aims to bring together WOP-scholars committed to actively contribute to building a better future for our field. Our recommendations are intended to support both individuals and collectives to become actively engaged in co-creating the future of WOP together with us. Therefore, this manifesto is open and never "finished." It should continuously evolve, based on an ongoing debate around our professional values and behavior. This manifesto is meant, first of all, for ourselves as an academic community. Furthermore, it is also important for managers, decision makers, and other stakeholders and interested parties, such as students, governments and organizations, as we envision what the future of WOP could look like, and it is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to realize a sustainable future for all of us. ARTICLE HISTORY Future; academic system; work and organizational psychology; organizational behavior; manifesto EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY https://doi.(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

Research paper thumbnail of Manifesto for the future of work and organizational psychology

European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Org... more This manifesto presents 10 recommendations for a sustainable future for the field of Work and Organizational Psychology. The manifesto is the result of an emerging movement around the Future of WOP (see www. futureofwop.com), which aims to bring together WOP-scholars committed to actively contribute to building a better future for our field. Our recommendations are intended to support both individuals and collectives to become actively engaged in co-creating the future of WOP together with us. Therefore, this manifesto is open and never "finished." It should continuously evolve, based on an ongoing debate around our professional values and behavior. This manifesto is meant, first of all, for ourselves as an academic community. Furthermore, it is also important for managers, decision makers, and other stakeholders and interested parties, such as students, governments and organizations, as we envision what the future of WOP could look like, and it is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to realize a sustainable future for all of us. ARTICLE HISTORY Future; academic system; work and organizational psychology; organizational behavior; manifesto EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY https://doi.(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.