Explaining the relationship between stress with alienation and deviant behaviors on the basis of the moderating role of cognitive attribution of causes of stress

With regard to the potential role of cognitions on various human feelings and behaviors، this research was conducted with the aim of studying the role of cognitive attribution of stress in association between work overload with alienation and deviant behaviors. One hundred and sixty eight employees of an industrial organization participated in this research. All participants were asked to complete the researcher made job stress attribution questionnaire (AJSQ)، work overload questionnaire (WOQ)، alienation questionnaire (WAQ)، and deviant behaviors questionnaire (DBQ). Results showed that there was not a significant relationship between deviant behaviors and work overload، work alienation، and job stress attribution. But there was a significant relationship between work overload and work alienation and job stress attribution. Results of hierarchical regression analysis revealed that attributing the stress to the organization was moderated by the relationship between work overload with work alienation. That is، when attributing stress to the organization is high، there is a negative relationship between work overload with work alienation، but when attributing the stress to the organization is low، there is a positive relationship between work overload with work alienation. Also attributing stress to self was moderated by the relationship between work overload with deviant behaviors. That is، when attributing stress to self is low، there is a positive relationship between work overload with deviant behaviors، but when attributing stress to self is high، there is a negative relationship between work overload with deviant behaviors.