Effects of personality on subjective job stress: a cultural analysis

Type A/B behavior pattern, locus of control, and job stress are examined across nations (Hungary, Italy, United Kingdom, Israel, and USA) and cultures. Survey data from 2032 nurses in 19 hospitals were obtained. External locus of control positively related to job stress, and this relationship was different across countries. Type A was positively related to stress in Italy, Israel, and USA, though the correlations were not significantly different from each other across countries. Nurses in nations endorsing hierarchy (e.g., USA) had greater Internal control, but nurses in nations that had a low endorsement for Intellectual autonomy reported higher Type A behavior. Finally, being Type A and having external locus of control was the most common and detrimental personality combination affecting job stress, though it was worse in cultures not endorsing external control.