The mediating role of work-related strain in the relationship between workload and job dissatisfaction: a study on retail employees
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between perceived workload and job dissatisfaction among supermarket employees by investigating the mediating role of work-related strain. Increasing competition and performance pressure in contemporary work environments intensify employees’ perceived workload, leading to unfavorable organizational outcomes. Within this context, the study empirically tested the relationships among workload, work-related strain, and job dissatisfaction. Data were collected from employees working in local and chain supermarkets located in Ağrı, Türkiye, and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 and IBM SPSS AMOS 24. The findings revealed that workload has a positive and significant effect on job dissatisfaction and significantly increases employees’ levels of work-related strain. In addition, work-related strain positively influences job dissatisfaction and partially mediates the relationship between workload and job dissatisfaction, indicating that workload affects employees both directly and indirectly through psychological mechanisms. These findings support the assumptions of the Job Demands–Resources Model and the Conservation of Resources Theory. The results suggest that workload should be considered a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by employees’ psychological experiences rather than merely a quantitative job demand. Accordingly, organizations should improve task allocation and implement interventions that reduce work-related strain. The study contributes to organizational behavior literature by providing empirical evidence from the retail sector.
Source: Aposta
Author: Emre Seyrek
Institution: Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7170086334