This study examined a model of the stress process in which psychological climate dimensions affect stress responses both directly and ? via the mediating effects of occupational stressors and the adoption of coping strategies ? indirectly. Female nurses (N = 198) completed an anonymous questionnaire that measured psychological climate, occupational stressors, coping strategies, and stress responses. Four dimensions of psychological climate were obtained by factor analysis: Performance pressure, supportive climate, hostile collectivism, and the peace-at-any-price principle.
Path analysis revealed the following concerning such dimensions: Performance pressure increased stress responses by raising the workload, while also decreasing them by inhibiting the adoption of emotion-focused coping. Supportive climate facilitated the adoption of problem-focused coping (including social support seeking), which had an indirect effect that decreased stress responses. Hostile collectivism and the peace-at-any-price principle directly increased stress responses and occupational stressors. The findings suggest that each psychological climate dimension has a different influence on stress responses.