Measurement of psychosocial factors in work environment: application of two models of occupational stress

Abstract

To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI) based on the Job Demand-Control Model and Effort-Reward Imbalance Model respectively. 928 health care workers in hospitals were investigated in this study. The self-administered questionnaires were used to assess the psychosocial work environment, including job demand, control, social support, extrinsic effort, reward, and overcommitment. Mean while, the internal consistency reliability, construct validity and criterion validity were evaluated. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for 6 scales were acceptable (0.56 approximately 0.82); factor analysis showed the close fitness with the theoretical constructs, though the "job demand" and "overcommitment" scales were still questioned; moreover, both demand-control and effort-reward imbalance were independently related to depressive symptom (OR: 1.63 approximately 2.64, P < 0.01), indicating the satisfactory criterion validity. Both Job Demand-Control Model and Effort-Reward Imbalance Model, with their relevant questionnaires were reliable and valid methods for measuring the psychosocial work environment and assessing the occupational stress among Chinese working population and further revision is necessary.