(In)justice in waiting: Russian officers' organizational commitment and mental distress during downsizing

The present study used the first wave of a quasi-experimental panel study of Russian military officers (N = 1,798) to assess what happens during the waiting period alter notification of release. Procedural, interactional, and distributive justice variables were incorporated into a model of the stress process. Effects on organizational commitment, outcome evaluation, anxiety, depression, and hostility were assessed. Interactional justice (Bies, 1987)-respect shown to the departing officer-was both an effect of downsizing (leavers reported receiving greater respect than stayers perceived them to get) and a moderator of downsizing's impact (respect buffered the stress process more among leavers). The negative effects of leaving were also buffered by duration of service, but were exacerbated by combat experience.