Title
The relationships between work characteristics and mental health: Examining normal, reversed and reciprocal relationships in a 4-wave study
Author
de Lange, A.H.
Taris, T.W.
Kompier, M.A.J.
Houtman, I.L.D.
Bongers, P.M.
TNO Arbeid
Publication year
2004
Abstract
This longitudinal study examined the causal relationships between job demands, job control and supervisor support on the one hand and mental health on the other. Whereas we assumed that work characteristics affect mental health, we also examined reversed causal relationships (mental health influences work characteristics). Further, the topic of the appropriate time lag for testing causal relationships was addressed. Our hypotheses were tested in a 4-wave study among a heterogeneous sample of 668 Dutch employees using structural equation modelling. The results provide evidence for reciprocal causal relationships between the work characteristics and mental health, although the effects of work characteristics on well-being were causally predominant. The best model fit was found for a 1-year time lag. Compared to earlier-predominantly cross-sectional-results, the present study presents a stronger case for the effects of work characteristics on the development of strain. The results also emphasize the need for a dynamic view of the relationship between work and health; the one-directional viewpoint in many work stress models does not seem to fully capture the relations between work characteristics and well-being.
Subject
Workplace
Veilig en Gezond Werken
Causation
Demand-Control-Support model
Longitudinal research
Reciprocal relationships
Structural equation modelling
Well-being
Clinical trial
Employee
Human
Job control
Job demand
Job stress
Longitudinal study
Management
Mental health
Mental stress
Meta analysis
Netherlands
Productivity
Review
Social support
Statistical model
Stress
Structural equation modeling
Support group
Wellbeing
Work
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e5f58371-6894-4c39-953b-cffc07e942ba
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370412331270860
TNO identifier
237671
ISSN
0267-8373
Source
Work and Stress, 18 (2), 149-166
Document type
article