“…With higher levels of skill utilisation and decision authority, psychological distress would decline (de Jonge et al 2000a, Mausner‐Dorsch and Eaton 2000, Niedhammer et al 1998, Stansfeld et al 1999, Van Der Doef et al 2000). Second, higher distress should be found when there are higher work demands in the form of physical demands (environment and individual efforts: Challenor and Wright 2000, de Jonge et al 1999, Demerouti et al 2000, Julien et al 2000, Sassine et al 1996), psychological demands (work pace, quantity of work, conflicts: de Jonge et al 1999, 2000a, Demerouti et al 2000, Lam et al 1999, Mak and Mueller 2001, Payne and Morrison 1999, Stansfeld et al 1999, Van Der Doef et al 2000) and contractual demands (number of working hours, irregular work schedule: Bohle and Tilley 1989, Bourbonnais et al 1999, Brugère et al 1997, Demerouti et al 2000, Spurgeon et al 1997, Voydanoff and Donnelly 1999a,b). Third, social relationships with colleagues and managers who provide support during the performance of tasks should lower the odds of psychological distress (Bourbonnais et al 1999, Stansfeld et al 1999, Van Der Doef et al 2000, Vermeulen and Mustard 2000).…”