Minimizing strain and maximizing learning: the role of job demands, job control, and proactive personality

J Appl Psychol. 1999 Dec;84(6):925-39. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.84.6.925.

Abstract

Using a sample of 268 production employees, this study extended research on R. Karasek's (1979) demands-control model of stress in 2 ways. First, results show that R. Karasek's proposed interaction between demands and control when predicting strain occurred only for more proactive employees. This 3-way interaction helps reconcile previous inconsistent findings about the interaction between demands and control when predicting strain. Second, the study extends research by investigating the demands-control interaction and the moderating influence of proactive personality in relation to learning-oriented outcomes (perceived mastery, role breadth self-efficacy, and production ownership). There were no 3-way interactions among the variables when predicting these learning-oriented outcomes, but all were important predictors. These results show (a) that demands and control can influence learning as proposed in the dynamic version of the demands-control model and (b) that proactive personality plays an important moderating role.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Assertiveness*
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Learning*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Problem Solving
  • Self Concept
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Workload / psychology*