title: Investigating the factorial structure and availability of work time control in a representative sample of the Swedish working population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Past research has often neglected the sub-dimensions of work time control (WTC). Moreover, differences in levels of WTC with respect to work and demographic characteristics have not yet been examined in a representative sample. We investigated these matters in a recent sample of the Swedish working population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on the 2014 data collection of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health. We assessed the structure of the WTC measure using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Differences in WTC by work and demographic characteristics were examined with independent samplet-tests, one-way ANOVAs and gender-stratified logistic regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Best model fit was found for a two-factor structure that distinguished between control over daily hours and control over time off (root mean square error of approximation = 0.06; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.09; Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.99). Women, shift and public-sector workers reported lower control in relation to both factors. Age showed small associations with WTC, while a stronger link was suggested for civil status and family situation. Night, roster and rotating shift work seemed to be the most influential factors on reporting low control over daily hours and time off.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirm the two-dimensional structure underlying WTC, namely the components 'control over daily hours' and 'control over time off'. Women, public-sector and shift workers reported lower levels of control. Future research should examine the public health implications of WTC, in particular whether increased control over daily hours and time off can reduce health problems associated with difficult working-time arrangements.
authors.affiliation: Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden sophie.albrecht@su.se.
authors.forename: Sophie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kecklund
authors.affiliation: Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Constanze
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leineweber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D013548:Sweden; D014937:Work; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Work time control; autonomy; factor analysis; flexible work-time arrangements; flexitime; shift work