What we do to fit in: personality, coping, and Person-Environment fit

164 Pages·2016·2.96 MB·English

University of Iowa
Iowa Research Online
Theses and Dissertations
Spring 2016
What we do to ft in: personality, coping, and Person-Environment
ft
Elizabeth Follmer
University of Iowa
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd
Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons
Copyright 2016 Elizabeth Honor Follmer
This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/3084
Recommended Citation
Follmer, Elizabeth. "What we do to ft in: personality, coping, and Person-Environment ft." PhD (Doctor of
Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2016.
https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.ebd2lt9f
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd
Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons
WHAT WE DO TO FIT IN:
PERSONALITY, COPING, AND PERSON-ENVIRONMENT FIT

by
Elizabeth Follmer

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements
for the Doctor of Philosophy
degree in Business Administration in the
Graduate College of
The University of Iowa

May 2016

Thesis Supervisor: Professor Amy Kristof-Brown
Copyright by
ELIZABETH FOLLMER
2016
All Rights Reserved
Graduate College
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL

____________________________

PH.D. THESIS

_________________

This is to certify that the Ph.D. thesis of

Elizabeth Follmer

has been approved by the Examining Committee for
the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree
in Business Administration at the May 2016 graduation.

Thesis Committee: ____________________________________________
Amy Kristof-Brown, Thesis Supervisor

____________________________________________
Sara Rynes

____________________________________________
Amy Colbert

____________________________________________
Brady Firth

____________________________________________
Ning Li
ABSTRACT

Person-Environment (PE) Fit has been a subject of research interest for over 100
years, and although much is known about the consequences of PE fit and the types of PE
fit, the actions that people take in pursuit of this desirable condition are less well
understood. This dissertation develops and tests a model that explains how personality
traits influence individuals’ choice of coping mechanisms used in pursuit of PE Fit and
their ability to use them effectively. Achievement and anxiety motivations influence the
choice of coping mechanisms used in pursuit of fit. The effectiveness of these coping
mechanisms to change the level of PE fit is determined by individuals’ ability to respond
to feedback from the environment, indicated by narcissism. I also explore the influence of
aspects of change in the environment that drive individuals to cope with uncertainty
during times of change. Finally, the level of fit achieved and the changes in fit made over
time influence individuals’ well-being and organizational commitment. I test this model
using a sample of student teams assessed over the course of 5 time periods and a field
study sample of working adults assesses over the course of 4 time periods. I analyzed
these data using Regression, Structural Equation Modeling, and Latent Growth Modeling.

ii
PUBLIC ABSTRACT

Nearly everyone has experienced the feeling of not fitting in at one time or
another and we all know that it can be an unpleasant and distracting experience. Fitting in
at work has been an area of study in the fields of Organizational Behavior and Human
Resources for nearly 100 years because employees who do not fit in are more likely to be
unhappy at work, to leave their jobs, and to be unproductive. Most of this research has
focused on the positive (and occasionally the negative) consequences of fitting in at work
and on the way that people and organizations pursue good fitting employees through the
application, recruiting, and hiring processes. The purpose of this study is to explore how
people work to achieve good fit when their fit is threatened by changes in the
organization. This study also considers the role that personality differences play in
determining how people cope with the stress associated with not fitting in and whether or
not they are able to improve their fit. Finally, I describe how experiencing change in fit
also affects individuals’ well-being, their satisfaction at work, and their desire to quit
their job or stay in an environment where they do not fit in.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES viii
LIST OF FIGURES ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 6
Person-Environment Fit 6
Person-Environment Fit and Change over Time 9
Coping Mechanisms 15
Organizational Change, Stress, and Coping 19
Personality and Coping 21
Achievement and Anxiety Motivation 22
Approach and Avoid Temperaments 23
Proactive Personality 25
Neuroticism 28
Narcissism 31

CHAPTER THREE: HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT
Overview of the Proposed Model 34
Achievement and Anxiety Motivations Determine the Choice of
Coping Mechanisms 35
Uncertainty of Change Moderates the Effect of Personality on Coping 44
Coping Mechanisms and Change in Fit 46
Narcissism Moderates Coping Effectiveness 51
Outcomes of Changes in PE Fit 54

CHAPTER FOUR: STUDY 1 METHODS 58
Overview of the Studies 58
Study 1 Sample 58
Study 1 Data Collection 59
Study 1 Measures 60

CHAPTER FIVE: STUDY 1 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 64
Study 1 Tests of the Measurement Model 64
Study 1 Hypothesis Tests and Post Hoc Analyses 66
Study 1 Discussion 75

CHAPTER SIX: STUDY 2 METHODS 78
Overview 78
Study 2 Sample 78
Study 2 Data Collection 80
Study 2 Measures 80

iv
CHAPTER SEVEN: STUDY 2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 85
Study 2 Tests of the Measurement Model 85
Study 2 Hypothesis Tests and Post Hoc Analyses 87
Study 2 Discussion 94

CHAPTER EIGHT: GENERAL DISCUSSION 97
Theoretical Implications 98
Managerial Implications 106
Limitations and Future Research 108
Conclusion 110

APPENDICES 112
A: Study 1 Survey 112
B: Study 2 Survey 116

REFERENCES 119
TABLES 128
FIGURES 150

v
LIST OF TABLES

1 Sample Demographics for Study 1 128
2 Study 1 Correlations, Means, and Standard Deviations for All Variables 129
3 Study 1 Confirmatory Factor Analysis Model Comparisons 130
4 Fit Statistics for the Study 1 Tests of Measurement Invariance 130
5 Non-Independence Statistics for PJ Fit and PG Fit 131
6 Study 1 Regression of Coping Styles on Personality Predictors 131
7 Study 1 Tests of the Effect of Approach and Avoid Temperament on 132
Coping
8 Study 1 Tests of the Effects of Coping on the Level and Change of PJ and 132
PG Fit
9 Study 1 Model Fit Comparisons for Hypothesized and Post Hoc Models of 133
Change in Fit and Coping
10 Study 1 Post Hoc Tests of PJ and PG Fit as Predictors of Coping 134
11 Study 1 Post Hoc Tests of Coping Level and Change on the Level and 133
Change of PJ and PG Fit
12 Study 1 Tests of Narcissism as a Moderator of Coping’s Relationship with 136
the Level and Change of PJ and PG Fit
13 Timing of the Study 2 Data Collection 137
14 Sample Demographics for Study 2 138
15 Study 2 Correlations, Means, Standard Deviations, and Scale Reliabilities 139
for All Variables
16 Study 2 Confirmatory Factor Analysis Model Comparisons 140
17 Study 2 Fit Statistics for Tests of Measurement Invariance 140
18 Study 2 Tests of the Effect of Approach and Avoid Temperament on 141
Coping
19 Study 2 Tests of Uncertainty as a Moderator of Approach and Avoid 141
Temperaments’ Relationships with Coping
20 Study 2 Tests of the Effects of Coping on the Level and Change of PJ and 142
PG Fit
21 Study 2 Model Fit Comparisons for Hypothesized and Post Hoc Models of 143
Change in Fit and Coping
22 Study 2 Post Hoc Tests of PJ and PG Fit as Predictors of Coping 144
23 Study 2 Post Hoc Tests of Coping Level and Change on the Level and 145
Change of PJ and PG Fit
24 Study 2 Tests of Narcissism as a Moderator of Coping’s Relationship with 146
the Level and Change of PJ and PG Fit

vi
25 Study 2 Tests of the Effect of Level and Change of PJ and PG fit on Job 147
Satisfaction and Intention to Quit
26 Study 2 Standardized Direct and Indirect Effects of Coping on Burnout 147
through PJ and PG Fit
27 Summary of Support for Hypotheses in Studies 1 and 2 148-9

vii