An Analysis of Male and Female Managers’ Responses to Work Stress: Focused on the Case of South Korea

Abstract

This study aims to determine how work the stress of female and male managers in Korean companies influences their capabilities and career development behavior and analyzes how it affects their turnover intention. According to the analysis results determined using the panel data from the Korean Women’s Development Institute, first, work stress experienced by managers increases their turnover intentions regardless of gender. Secondly, more work stress decreases the development behavior of male mangers but strengthens the career development behavior of female managers. Thirdly, greater work stress decreases manager capabilities but strengthens the capabilities of female managers. Fourthly, career development behavior and capabilities as a mediator variable act differently according to gender on the relationship between work stress and turnover intention. We discussed the results of this study while considering the peculiarities of Korea, which has strong male-centered corporate culture, and presented theoretical and practical implications of the results of this study.