Abstract
Perceived negative changes of organizational climate are commonly attributed to the stressful nature
of the job. This study examines an occupation-specific model of the stress process in nurses in which
perceived negative changes of specific organizational climate dimensions were hypothesized to distress
indirectly through the mediating effects of specific occupational stressors. The model proposes three
perceived negative changes of organizational climate, namely an increase in their working hours, dilution
of their group-solidarity and workplace becoming more demanding (e.g. customers demand more
service). The SEM analysis on the responses of 592 female nurses revealed that,1) excessive perceived
negative changes of organizational climate was associated with higher nursing occupational stressors,
qualitative work load,2) excessive perceived negative changes of organizational climate was associated
with higher nursing occupational stressors, conflict with other nursing staffs,3) qualitative work load and
conflict with other nursing staffs were associated with higher distress, confirming our hypotheses.
