Research On The Illegitimate Tasks Experienced By Postgraduate And Coping Strategies

Illegitimate tasks represent assignments that individuals feels they "should not have to do" because they are not appropriate given their role,which may harm identity.It is a new stressor that becomes increasingly popular.Many studies on illegitimate tasks have shown its influence and buffer factors under workplace contexts while seldom focused on campus contexts.However,it is important to pay attention on students because the relation especially between postgraduates and their mentors had changed.It was meaningful to study the illegitimate tasks on postgraduates.The aim of this study was to broaden existing knowledge on illegitimate tasks by exploring whether this stressor was also negatively related to mental well-being in postgraduates.In this study,to examine the relation between 194 subjects' anxiety?satisfaction and buffer factor on the relation between illegitimate tasks and its outcomes.The result showed:Illegitimate tasks may be important in postgraduates as they were linked to satisfaction and anxiety.In addition,support from mentor buffered the negative effects of illegitimate tasks,which includes that mentor may give more support to postgraduates.