Moderating role of social support in the stressor-satisfaction relationship: Evidence from police officers in Korea

The purpose of this study is to find out the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction, and analyze the effect of social support on this relationship. In particular, this study analyzes the effects of three types of job stress - role overload, role ambiguity and bad physical environment - and two sources of social support - supervisor and coworker support. Regression analysis was performed using data from a survey of 619 police officers in Korea. The findings from the analysis are as follows. First, role ambiguity and bad physical environment are negatively related to job satisfaction. Second, social support has a direct effect on job satisfaction but has no moderating effect. Third, coworker support is more effective in enhancing job satisfaction than supervisor support.