Incorporating unpaid work strain into Karasek's Job Demand-Control model

Abstract

The relationship between paid and unpaid work strain and psychological well-being, in the context of Karasek’s Job Demand-Control model (1979), was studied. A multiple linear regression was conducted using the results from a telephone survey of 1160 participants; 486 were male and 674 were female. Psychological distress was measured with the Kessler-6. Paid and unpaid job strain was measured with a version of Karasek’s Job Content Questionnaire. Regardless of gender, unpaid work strain accounted for a significant proportion of psychological distress after controlling for paid work strain. Results support the strain hypothesis; the idea that it is high demands and low control that is most detrimental to psychological well-being. This was found for paid and unpaid work strain and for males and females.