Mitigating the negative aspects of project work: The roles of psychological capital and coworker and family support

Research on mitigating the negative effects of project work on project workers is scarce. This study analyzes the roles of psychological capital as an individual factor and coworker and family support as environmental factors in reducing the negative effects of project work. Building on the job demands-resources model and conservation of resources theory, the influence of these factors on the relationships between subjective stress, job burnout, and individual job performance is examined. The research model is empirically tested using data from a sample of 304 project workers. The results show that coworker and family support are positively associated with psychological capital. Additionally, psychological capital mediates the effects of social resources on subjective stress, which can lead to job burnout and poor work performance. Thus, coworker and family support and psychological capital can mitigate stress, job burnout, and their negative consequences. • How to reduce negative effects of project work on project workers? • Empirical study based on a sample of 304 project workers. • Coworker and family support are positively related to psychological capital. • Psychological capital mediates the effects of social resources on subjective stress. • Coworker-/family support and psychological capital mitigate stress and job burnout.