The job demand-control model of job strain across gender

Abstract

This study investigated (a) the structural and measurement equivalence of measures of the job demand-control (JDC) model of job strain for men and women (as operationalised by the Sources of Work Stress Inventory), (b) whether a common or separate regression equations should be used for men and women in the JDC model, and (c) the strain and buffer hypotheses associated with the JDC model. These objectives were pursued by means of factor analysis, item response theory analysis, and moderated hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The results show that the use of a common regression equation might give biased results. The results also provided stronger support for the strain hypothesis than for the buffer hypothesis. Opsomming Hierdie studie het ondersoek ingestel na (a) die strukturele en metingsekwivalensie van metings van die werkseisekontrole (WEK) model van werkspanning vir mans en vroue (soos geoperasionaliseer deur die Bronne van Werkstresinventaris), (b) die wenslikheid van ’n gemeenskaplike teenoor afsonderlike regressievergelykings vir mans en vroue, en (c) die spanning en buffer hipoteses wat met die WEK model geassossiëer word. Hierdie doelstellings is ondersoek aan die hand van faktorontleding, item responsteorie-ontleding en gemodereerde hiërargiese meervoudige regressie-ontleding. Die resultate wys dat die gebruik van ’n gemeenskaplike regressievergelyking sydige resultate mag oplewer. Die resultate toon verder sterker ondersteuning vir die spanning hipotese as vir die buffer hipotese.