Affiliations: HELIX VINN Excellence Centre, Linköping
University, Linköping, Sweden | National Centre for Work and Rehabilitation,
Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University,
Linköping, Sweden | Learning in Working Life and Educational Settings,
Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University,
Linköping, Sweden
Abstract: Objectives: Few workplace health promotion (WHP) interventions are
designed to improve work conditions. Methods for measurement of work conditions
are often developed from a risk factor perspective rather than a WHP
perspective. More knowledge is needed on the work conditions that promote
health in order to develop a good work environment. The purpose of the present
study was to investigate if the Demand Control Support model, the Effort Reward
Imbalance model and the Job Characteristic Inventory are correlated, if the
subscales predict health and to analyze which combination of subscales is the
most useful predictor of health longitudinally. Participants: The study
used questionnaire data from 662 civil servants at baseline and at follow-up 2 years later. Method: The data were analysed by multiple regressions. Results: A new model; effort, reward, and variety, was found having a higher
predictive power to predict health than the original models. Conclusions: To promote health at work, social relations and health-mediating work
conditions are important because these conditions may buffer health. Health can
be assumed to be a resource that is created in everyday activities and
interactions in workplaces, and there is a need to develop health measure
instruments based on holistic health theories.
Keywords: Work conditions, job stress models, health, workplace health promotion
