Effects of self-control demands and job control on occupational strain

Due to changing work demands, self-control at the workplace is of increasing importance, but has rarely been investigated. According to Karasek's (1979) job demands-control model of job strain we investigated whether the negative effects of self-control on job strain would be moderated by high levels of job control. Two hundred and sixty staff members of nursing homes for elderly people participated in the study. The results show that among employees who report low levels of job control self-control is positively associated with emotional exhaustion, psychosomatic complaints, and absenteeism during the year following the study as well, as negatively related to job satisfaction. By way of contrast, there is no adverse effect of self-control on job strain for those who perceive high levels of job-control.