Disclosure of Problems and Informal Helping in Work Settings
71 managers from a wide range of organizations provided demographic information and indicated how likely they were to discuss 14 specific problems with supervisors, peers, or subordinates, and how likely these particular individuals might seek their help with the same problems. Work and personal problems were examined separately. Younger, more educated, managers and those in higher status jobs disclosed more. Work problems were disclosed more than personal problems. Disclosure of work problems was greater to higher level sources of help, but disclosure of personal problems was greater to peers than to subordinates or supervisors.