Ricerc@Sapienza

Nowadays, the labor market’s instability and flexibility has led to increased feelings of uncertainty, insecurity, and precariousness in the workforce. With respect to psychological health, available studies focused mainly on the consequences related to the fear of job loss as a whole (i.e., quantitative job insecurity), in comparison to the consequences of the threat of losing valued job features (i.e., qualitative job insecurity).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to extend our knowledge of the relationship between quantitative and qualitative job insecurity and performance. On the basis of stress theories, we hypothesised that qualitative job insecurity (QLJI) would mediate the negative effect of quantitative job insecurity (QTJI) on two different indicators of performance: task performance (TP) and counterproductive work behaviours (CPWBs). In addition, the authors hypothesised that the effect of QTJI on QLJI would be moderated by the economic sector (public vs private) in which employees worked.

One of the more visible effects of the societal changes is the increased feelings of uncertainty in the workforce. In fact, job insecurity represents a crucial occupational risk factor and a major job stressor that has negative consequences on both organizational