Do job demands and job control affect problem-solving?
OBJECTIVE
The Job Demand Control model presents combinations of working conditions that may facilitate learning, the active learning hypothesis, or have detrimental effects on health, the strain hypothesis. To test the active learning hypothesis, this study analysed the effects of job demands and job control on general problem-solving strategies.


METHODS
A population-based sample of 4,636 individuals (55% women, 45% men) with the same job characteristics measured at two times with a three year time lag was used.


METHODS
Main effects of demands, skill discretion, task authority and control, and the combined effects of demands and control were analysed in logistic regressions, on four outcomes representing general problem-solving strategies.


RESULTS
Those reporting high on skill discretion, task authority and control, as well as those reporting high demand/high control and low demand/high control job characteristics were more likely to state using problem solving strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that working conditions including high levels of control may affect how individuals cope with problems and that workplace characteristics may affect behaviour in the non-work domain.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. peter.n.bergman@ki.se
Peter N
PN
Bergman
Gunnel
G
Ahlberg
Gun
G
Johansson
Ulrich
U
Stoetzer
Carl
C
Aborg
Lennart
L
Hallsten
Ingvar
I
Lundberg
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D011361:Professional Competence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards*