[Job stressors in software developers--a comparison with other occupations].
The aim of this study is to investigate the difference in job stressors among software developers, the sales staff and the clerical staff (n = 2,079) in two companies (A Co. and B Co.) using a self-administered questionnaire that included a job stressor scale and the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). We developed the job stressor scale based on the interviews with out-patients who engaged in software development and previous studies about job stressors. Factor analysis with a seven-factor solution showed that seven subscales were abstracted from the job stressor scale, namely, quantitative load of work, dissatisfaction with work, demanding work, uneasiness about work, human relations, ambiguity of work and shortage of private time. Each subscale was significantly (r = .313-.442, p < 0.0001) correlated with the GHQ score and proved to be a reliable instrument, as indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of greater than 0.73. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that quantitative load of work and shortage of private time subscale scores were significantly high in software developers in A Co. Software developers in A Co. tended to score higher (P < .10) than the others in demanding work and ambiguity of work subscale. All subscale scores were significantly low in the clerical staff in B Co. There was no significant difference between the sales staff and software developers in B Co. Results of the interviews with out-patients showed that demanding work, hard deadline, ambiguity of work and precarious work would cause trouble in software developers. The implications of these findings with respect to occupational issues related to software developers are discussed.
Kadokura
M
M
Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012984:Software; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance