The Decent Work Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of the Italian version

Abstract

Decent work is an integrative concept that may account for several labor-related issues. It represents the defence and promotion of human rights at work and business and the fulfilling and productive work maintained with social dialogue. Previous studies developed the Decent Work Questionnaire based on International Labor Organization propositions and workers' perceptions.The paper reports the adaptation and validation of its Italian version in a high-skilled workers sample (N = 1,465). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original version's structural dimensions and good internal consistency reliability. Convergent and discriminant validity, tested using work engagement and personal burnout scales, were supported by the data. Therefore, the DWQ Italian version appears to yield reliable and valid data as a Decent Work measure in Italian workplaces.

The associations of decent work with wellbeing and career capabilities: a meta-analysis

“…Ferraro's decent work notion which highlights individuals' perceptions of work by referring to the ILO's 11 substantive elements, has also been studied in conjunction with a wide variety of psychological phenomena, such as personal burnout, work engagement, thriving at work, and motivation, etc. (Ferraro et al, 2021 ; Sheng and Zhou, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Decent work is perceived as the lever for expressing these four values by means of pursuing four strategic objectives: (1) standards and fundamental principles and rights at work, (2) employment, (3) social protection, and (4) social dialogue (International Labor Organization., 1999 ; International Labour Organization., 2008 ). Nowadays decent work has been promoted all over the world at theoretical, practical, and research levels (Pereira, 2019 ; Rantanen et al, 2020 ; Blustein et al, 2023 ) and applied to various population groups from high-skilled occupations (e.g., knowledge workers like college/university faculty members) to low-skilled ones (e.g., domestic workers) (D'Souza, 2010 ; Ferraro et al, 2021 ). Third, as a lens for informing a comprehensive review of working conditions, the decent work notion is conceptualized as a multidimensional concept encompassing various favorable or enabling working dimensions.…”

The Decent Work Questionnaire: adaptation and validation of the Spanish version

“…The DWQ (Ferraro et al , 2018b) measures DW dimensions of the work context and content considering workers’ perceptions. The questionnaire was already adapted and validated for Portuguese, Brazilian and Italian samples (Ferraro et al , 2018b; Ferraro et al , 2021). The DWQ is a 31-item scale that provides a Global DW score (second-order factor) with seven dimensions: Fundamental principles and values at work (with six items), measuring to what extent freedom, justice, non-discrimination, participation in decisions, respect and trust are present at work and related contexts (DW1; e.g.…”

“…One of the main steps in this strategy is to consider the theoretical basis of the model. Considering the instrument's previous validation history in Portugal, Brazil (Ferraro et al, 2018b) and Italy (Ferraro et al, 2021), we found the suggestion to test the higher-order model (HOM, Cred e and Harms, 2015). For comparison, we built this path diagram and two additional ones: one considering a one single-factor model (SFM, commonly the zero model; Model 4 in Table 2) and a third model using the seven DW factors (without the second-order factor) or the oblique-first-order model (OblFOM, Model 3 in Table 2).…”

“…Further empirical research supported (a) the critical role of DW as an antecedent of Work Motivation and Psychological Capital (Ferraro et al , 2018a); (b) the relationships among DW and Work Motivation, Work Engagement and Burnout in physicians (Ferraro et al , 2020); (c) the relevant role of DW deficit as an antecedent of Burnout (Dinis et al , 2022); and (d) and the role of DW as an antecedent of Psychological Capital (Bolito et al , 2023). Besides, the DWQ has been adapted successfully to the Italian context (Ferraro et al , 2021). This study also tests the DW nomological network, applying Work Engagement and Burnout measures.…”