Role Stressors and Retail Performance: The Role of Perceived Competitive Climate

Cognitive appraisal theory is used to investigate the influence of perceived competitive climate in the retail store upon the relationship between three role stressors (i.e., role ambiguity, role conflict, and family-work conflict) and job efficacy, job satisfaction, and the self- and supervisor-rated performance of retail professionals. Results indicate that the effect of role ambiguity on job efficacy is moderated by perceived competitive climate, such that the harmful effect of role ambiguity is lessened when competitive climate is high, thus highlighting a potential benefit of stress reduction through an increase in perceptions of competitive climate. In addition, the influence of job satisfaction on supervisor ratings of performance is moderated by perceived competitive climate, such that higher levels of job satisfaction result in improved supervisor ratings when the competitive climate is perceived to be high.