This article describes a two‐wave panel study which was carried out to examine reciprocal relationships between job characteristics and work‐related psychological well‐being. Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 261 health care professionals using structural equation modelling (LISREL 8). Controlling for gender, age, and negative affectivity, the results primarily supported the hypothesis that Time 1 job characteristics influence Time 2 psychological well‐being. More specifically, Time 2 job satisfaction was determined by Time 1 job demands and workplace social support, respectively. Furthermore, there was also some preliminary but weak evidence for reversed cross‐lagged effects since Time 1 emotional exhaustion seemed to be the causal dominant factor with respect to Time 2 (perceived) job demands. In conclusion, this study builds on earlier cross‐sectional and longitudinal findings by eliminating confounding factors and diminishing methodological deficiencies. Empirical support for the influence of job characteristics on psychological well‐being affirms what several theoretical models have postulated to be the causal ordering among job characteristics and work‐related psychological well‐being.

This article describes a test of Karasek's Job Demand-Control (JD-C) Model using both group and individual level assessments of job characteristics. By group assessments, we mean aggregated individual data. A random sample from general hospitals and nursing homes included 16 institutions, 64 units, and 1489 health care workers (82% response). Because of the hierarchically nested data structure (i.e., institutions, units, and individuals) the research questions and hypothesis were tested in multilevel regression analyses (VARCL). The results revealed both group level and individual level effects with regard to psychological outcomes, and stressed the usefulness of multilevel techniques. Karasek's JID-C Model was partly confirmed by finding two interaction effects at group level and at individual level with regard to job satisfaction and work motivation, respectively. The discussion focuses on theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of multilevel modeling with respect to the JD-C Model.

A study of nurses' job satisfaction, experienced job significance, psychological and psychosomatic health complaints and sickness absenteeism is reported. Hackman & Oldham's Job Characteristics Model was an important starting‐point for the study. The relationships of characteristics of nursing jobs, leadership style and type of nursing care system to such reactions of nurses to their work are analysed and the possible moderating role of preference for autonomy is investigated. Subjects are 561 trained staff nurses from 36 nursing units in 16 Dutch hospitals. Variables are assessed by means of questionnaires. Stepwise regression analysis reveals that variances in the four dependent variables to a certain extent can be explained by the nine predictors. Some job characteristics (e.g. feedback and clarity and autonomy), as well as social‐emotional leadership positively affect nurses' reactions. Other dependent variables (e.g. work pressure and instrumental leadership) appear to have negative effects. Using subgroup regression analysis, evidence for a moderating role of need for autonomy is found to be rather scarce.

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The working postures of Dutch nurses (n = 18) in an orthopaedic ward and a urology ward were observed using the Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS). During observation, both working postures and activities were recorded. A specially developed computer program was used for data analysis. By means of this program, it was possible to calculate the working posture load for each activity and the contribution of a specific activity to the total working posture load. This study shows that some activities of the nurses in both wards were performed with poor working postures. In the orthopaedic (resp. urology) ward two (resp. one) out of 19 observed postures of parts of the body were classified as Action Category 2. Moreover, 20% (resp. 16%) of the so-called typical working postures was classified in Action Category 2. This suggests, that in both wards working postures that are slightly harmful to the musculoskeletal system, occur during a substantial part of the working day. Differences between both wards with respect to working posture load and time expenditure were determined. Activities causing the workload to fall into OWAS higher Action Categories were identified. The data show that poor working postures in the nursing profession not only occur during patient handling activities but also during tasks like 'administration'. Focusing on patient-handling (i.e., lifting patients) in order to determine the load on the musculoskeletal system would therefore lead to an underestimation of the total working posture load of nurses.