The current study extends recent research on personality vulnerability to distress by examining the congruency hypothesis. This hypothesis includes precise predictions on the congruence between the personality and stressor. Mediating models of work orientation serving as vulnerabilities to distress are linked to the stressor as mediators, assuming that individuals generate distress and use of avoidance coping. A total of 173 employees were administered measures of work orientation (interpersonal/ achievement), negative life events (interpersonal/achievement), coping style, and distress, and a structural equation modeling was conducted. The results indicated that interpersonal negative life events mediated the effect of interpersonal work orientation on avoidance coping. However, achievement negative life events did not mediate the effect of achievement work orientation on distress or coping. Thus, the results illuminate the need to assess personality vulnerabilities to distress and specific stressor domains and suggest that congruence of interpersonal work orientation and stressors contribute to distress in employees.
