Job Complexity and Employee Substance Use: The Moderating Effects of Cognitive Ability

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which individual's general cognitive ability influences relations between the complexity of their jobs and their use of four different substances: cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. We tested this possibility using 1992 and 1982 data sets from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (Center for Human Resource Research 1993). The 1992 data set included 7,112 individuals and measures of all four substances. The 1982 set included 8,548 individuals and a measure of alcohol use only. Our results showed that for three of the substances (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana), individuals responded differently to job complexity as a function of their cognitive ability. Specifically, for individuals low in cognitive ability, the more complex their jobs, the greater their use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. On the other hand, for those with high cognitive ability, the more complex their jobs, the lower their use of these substances. Results also showed that cognitive ability had no significant impact on the association between job complexity and cocaine use. In sum, our findings suggest that providing employees with jobs that are compatible with their general cognitive ability may result in lower levels of licit and illicit substance use.