Perceived job insecurity, job predictability, personality, and health.
OBJECTIVE
The present study sought to determine whether job insecurity is associated with personality traits and beliefs. In addition, it was tested whether aspects of personality confounded the relationships between job insecurity and health, or moderated this association.


METHODS
At the first data collection, 5163 persons participated, and at the second data collection, 1946 persons of a random sample participated. Data were obtained from Oslo Health Study.


RESULTS
The job insecurity aspect concerning confidence in having a good job in 2 years was more strongly related to the health variables, and particularly with mental distress, compared with other aspects of job insecurity. Type-A behavior predicted an increase in upper back pain (beta 0.07), while optimism predicted a change in lower back pain (beta -0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Job insecurity is associated with health; this association is strongest for mental distress and self-reported health, and weaker for back-pain.
Lau
Bjørn
B
National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway. Bjorn.Lau@stami.no
Knardahl
Stein
S
D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010551:Personality; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*