The Effect of Self-Reported and Observed Job Conditions on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Comparison of Theoretical Models

Joan M. Griffin, Birgit A. Greiner, Stephen A. Stansfeld, Michael G. Marmot

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

The demand/control/support and effort/reward imbalance models have relied on self-reported methods to describe how poor psychosocial working conditions lead to harmful health outcomes. The hindrance/utilization model uses an observational methodology to assess these relationships. Cross-sectional observational and self-reported data from 98 civil servants participating in the Whitehall II Study of British civil servants were used to test whether work conditions measured by each of the three theoretical models explained a significant amount of the variance in depression and anxiety symptoms. Observational measures were also used to assess potential common methods variance bias between the self-reported job conditions and the outcomes. Results showed that the demand/control/support model explained the most variance in depression and anxiety symptoms and the associations were not wholly due to common methods variance. Moreover, measures associated with job resources (e.g., skill discretion, social support and skill utilization) had a protective effect on depression and anxiety symptoms. Exertion-related conditions (e.g., demands, effort, over commitment) were not consistently associated with depression or anxiety symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)334-349
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Occupational Health Psychology
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • job analysis
  • job control
  • occupational stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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