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The patterning of psychological attributes and distress by “job strain” and social support in a sample of working men

Journal of Behavioral Medicine volume 15, pages 379–405 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

As a test of the “job strain” (job demands-control) model, 297 healthy men aged 30–60 were recruited at eight New York City worksites. The association among job demands and control, social support, and psychological outcomes was tested using both ANCOVA and moderated multiple regression, controlling for demographic variables. The job strain model was supported by various psychological outcome measures, with workers in “active” jobs reporting the highest level of Type A behavior, job involvement, and positive attributional style, workers in “low-strain” jobs reporting the lowest job dissatisfaction and trait anxiety, workers in “passive” jobs reporting the most external locus of control and trait anxiety, and workers in “high-strain” jobs reporting the highest job dissatisfaction. Low social support was associated with greater symptomatology, and a significant three-way interaction (demands×control×support) for job dissatisfaction was observed. While selection of subjects into jobs may partially explain these findings, the results support the hypothesis that working conditions influence psychological attributes and distress.

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Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular and Hypertension Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical College, 10021, New York, New York

    Paul A. Landsbergis, Peter L. Schnall, Diane Deitz & Thomas Pickering

  2. State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11790, Stony Brook, New York

    Richard Friedman

Authors
  1. Paul A. Landsbergis
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  2. Peter L. Schnall
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  3. Diane Deitz
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  4. Richard Friedman
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  5. Thomas Pickering
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Additional information

Supported in part by grants HL 18232 and HL 30605, from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and National Research Service Award HL 08578 to the first author.

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Landsbergis, P.A., Schnall, P.L., Deitz, D. et al. The patterning of psychological attributes and distress by “job strain” and social support in a sample of working men. J Behav Med 15, 379–405 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844730

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Key words

  • stress
  • job strain
  • control
  • social support
  • psychological distress
  • Type A behavior
  • attributional style