Divergent influence of different type A dimensions on job strain and effort-reward imbalance.
BACKGROUND
We examined whether different Type A behavior dimensions have divergent influence on work stress.


METHODS
The sample comprised 752 participants from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Data were collected by questionnaires. Type A behavior was reported in subjects' adolescence and adulthood, and work stress was reported in adulthood. Work stress was measured according to Karasek's job demands-job control model and Siegrist's effort-reward imbalance (ERI).


RESULTS
High leadership predicted lower job strain. High hard-driving predicted higher job strain. High leadership predicted lower ERI in 2001 and higher reward at work. High aggression, hard-driving, and eagerness-energy predicted ERI.


CONCLUSIONS
Leadership predicted low work stress, whereas high hard-driving seemed to predispose the employee to work stress. The current findings add to the work stress literature by showing a divergent influence of different Type A dimensions on work stress.
Hintsa
Taina
T
Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Finland. taina.hintsa@helsinki.fi
Hintsanen
Mirka
M
Jokela
Markus
M
Pulkki-Råback
Laura
L
Keltikangas-Järvinen
Liisa
L
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014434:Type A Personality; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*