Psychological distress, depression, and burnout: similar contribution of the job demand-control and job demand-control-support models?

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of the Job Demand-Control (JDC) and the Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) models to three mental health outcomes. Data were collected from 410 Canadian municipal police employees. Mental health was evaluated with the General Health Questionnaire 12 items (GHQ-12), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) 21 items, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory 16-items general survey (MBI-16). Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire was used to measure JDC and JDCS. The results revealed a differential impact of JDC and JDCS models according to the type of mental health outcome. The MBI-16 was the best-predicted outcome. Interactions at the core of the JDC and JDCS models were weakly supported. The JDC and JDCS models contribute differently to workers mental health, depending on the instrument used to measure mental health. Implications for workplace health interventions are discussed.