Exploring the predictors and consequences of job insecurity's components

Purpose – This exploratory study aims to examine the usefulness of distinguishing between the cognitive and emotional components of job insecurity. Design/methodology/approach – This cross‐sectional survey study was undertaken in a sample of 600 civil servants. A series of regressions are employed to test proposed hypotheses. Findings – Results support the treatment of the components of job insecurity as separate variables. The cognitive and emotional components differed in their associations with predictors and consequences. Locus of control and employment dependence moderated several relationships. For example, employment dependence moderated the relationship between job insecurity and job loss strain. Research limitations/implications – The study design was cross‐sectional and, thus, cause‐effect relationships cannot be discerned. Also, since it was undertaken in the public sector, it needs to be cross‐validated in the private sector so that the generalizability of its results can be established. The study points to the utility of separately measuring the components of job insecurity in future research. Also, the role of employment dependence deserves further study given its role as a predictor of job loss strain and as a significant moderator variable. Practical implications – In supporting the treatment of job security and job loss strain as separate variables, this study suggests that one should consider how to reduce the negative effects of a lack of job security on job loss strain. This is especially important since job loss strain is associated with negative psychological and physiological symptoms. In today's rapidly changing environment, people who feel they have limited extra‐organizational opportunities appear to be particularly vulnerable. Human resource management practices that enhance employee mobility may help to manage their sense of dependence. Originality/value – This paper addresses two major gaps in the job security literature: it develops a comprehensive model using a two‐component approach to job insecurity; and investigates the potential role of employment dependence as both a cause of insecurity's components and a moderator in the causes → insecurity → consequences model.