Perceived work environment and cognitive style

Differences in perceived work environment are examined by age, gender, and occupation type, along with whether cognitive style predicts perceived work environment. The sample consists of 2185 men and women ranging in age from 21 to 93 years. Perceived work environment was measured using Moos's Work Environment Scale (WES) for the subscales of Autonomy, Control, and Innovation. The Test of Behavioral Rigidity (TBR) was used to measure cognitive style. Findings indicate significant mean level differences in perceived work environment based on gender, age, and occupation type. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that perceived work environment predicted concurrent cognitive style beyond demographic variables.