Role Stressors and Job Insecurity as Predictors of Job Stress: Evidence from a Higher Education Setting

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of role stressors, role ambiguity, role overload, and role conflict on job stress among contract-based university lecturers in Jiangsu Province, China, with job insecurity serving as a mediating variable. Drawing on role theory, job stress theory, and the extended Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, the research examines the psychological mechanisms through which stressors affect employee well-being. The sample size consisted of 305 valid respondents, who were retrieved using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that all three role stressors significantly increase job insecurity, which in turn strongly predicts job stress. Mediation analysis confirms that job insecurity fully mediates the effect of each role stressor on job stress. These findings provide empirical support for the theoretical framework and offer actionable insights for academic institutions. The study highlights the need for clearer role expectations and enhanced employment security to mitigate stress and support faculty well-being in higher education.