The effects of procedural injustice and outcome favorability on stress : an experimental study

Abstract

In the context of the stressor, stress, strain paradigm, I examined the main and interactive relationships of procedural justice and outcome favorability on measures of affect, self-reported stress and physiological indices of strain with a sample of 79 university students. Using a fully crossed 2 x 2 design I manipulated both procedural justice (high vs. low) and outcome favorability (favorable vs. unfavorable). I hypothesized that low vs. high procedural justice as well as low vs. high outcome favorability would be associated with more stress, poorer affect, and higher heart rate and blood pressure. I also hypothesized that the interaction between low procedural justice and low outcome favorability would result in the most stress, poorest affect and highest heart rate and blood pressure. In large part these hypotheses were not supported. Reasons for non-significance as well as limitations and directions for future research are discussed.