Internal Crisis Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association With Work-Related Stress: A Mixed Methods Study
(2021) PSYP01 20211Department of Psychology
- Abstract (Swedish)
- In previous years, the crisis communication literature has increasingly emphasised the need for closer examination of internal crisis communication, thereby focussing on employees during crises. Additionally, so far, no research has been conducted exploring internal crisis communication and its impact on employee well-being. The present study aimed at closing this gap by investigating whether internal crisis communication has been a health-promoting, so-called salutogenic, job characteristic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, internal crisis communication was measured as symmetrical and transparent communication, which were hypothesised to be negatively associated with work-related stress. Additionally, the present research... (More)
- In previous years, the crisis communication literature has increasingly emphasised the need for closer examination of internal crisis communication, thereby focussing on employees during crises. Additionally, so far, no research has been conducted exploring internal crisis communication and its impact on employee well-being. The present study aimed at closing this gap by investigating whether internal crisis communication has been a health-promoting, so-called salutogenic, job characteristic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, internal crisis communication was measured as symmetrical and transparent communication, which were hypothesised to be negatively associated with work-related stress. Additionally, the present research further examined whether work-related sense of coherence mediates the association between these two communication strategies and work-related stress. Thus, a mixed methods study with a sequential explanatory design was conducted. Accordingly, quantitative data was collected from employees (N = 205) via an online survey in Study 1. All hypotheses were supported by the data; however, work-related sense of coherence was found to be only a partial mediator in the present research model. In Study 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven employees. A thematic analysis was carried out and the resulting four themes were integrated with the findings of Study 1. In summary, internal crisis communication might be a salutogenic job characteristic and an important job resource during crises. Therefore, the present paper emphasises the importance of including employees into crisis management via internal crisis communication. Additionally, it provides practitioners with specific internal crisis communication strategies, namely symmetrical and transparent communication. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9059060
- author
- Bruchhaus, Anne LU and Duske, Lena LU
- supervisor
-
- Ulf Ericsson LU
- organization
- course
- PSYP01 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- internal crisis communication, symmetrical communication, transparent communication, work-related sense of coherence, work-related stress, COVID-19 pandemic
- language
- English
- id
- 9059060
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-28 07:53:08
- date last changed
- 2021-06-28 07:53:08
@misc{9059060,
abstract = {{In previous years, the crisis communication literature has increasingly emphasised the need for closer examination of internal crisis communication, thereby focussing on employees during crises. Additionally, so far, no research has been conducted exploring internal crisis communication and its impact on employee well-being. The present study aimed at closing this gap by investigating whether internal crisis communication has been a health-promoting, so-called salutogenic, job characteristic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, internal crisis communication was measured as symmetrical and transparent communication, which were hypothesised to be negatively associated with work-related stress. Additionally, the present research further examined whether work-related sense of coherence mediates the association between these two communication strategies and work-related stress. Thus, a mixed methods study with a sequential explanatory design was conducted. Accordingly, quantitative data was collected from employees (N = 205) via an online survey in Study 1. All hypotheses were supported by the data; however, work-related sense of coherence was found to be only a partial mediator in the present research model. In Study 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven employees. A thematic analysis was carried out and the resulting four themes were integrated with the findings of Study 1. In summary, internal crisis communication might be a salutogenic job characteristic and an important job resource during crises. Therefore, the present paper emphasises the importance of including employees into crisis management via internal crisis communication. Additionally, it provides practitioners with specific internal crisis communication strategies, namely symmetrical and transparent communication.}},
author = {{Bruchhaus, Anne and Duske, Lena}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Internal Crisis Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association With Work-Related Stress: A Mixed Methods Study}},
year = {{2021}},
}