DIMENSIONS OF THE PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK-ENVIRONMENT IN A SAMPLE OF THE UNITED-STATES METROPOLITAN POPULATION

The present study investigates the dimensional structure of die psycho social work environment as assessed by Karasek's job characteristics s cales and a set of factorial scales derived from the Dictionary of Occ upational Titles (DOT) observers' ratings of occupational characterist ics for census occupations. Scale scores on the Karasek and DOT were l inked to information on occupation from die Epidemiologic Catchment Ar ea (ECA) study sample. Scale intercorrelations and factor analysis wer e performed on those ECA subjects who reported ever having a full-time job (n=11,789). DOTs Substantive Complexity scale was positively corr elated with Karasek's Skill Discretion and Decision Authority scales, and DOT's Physical Demands and Hazards scale was positively correlated with Karasek's Physical Demands scale. In addition, the DOT system co mpared to the Karasek system seems to assess psychosocial work domains less characteristic of traditional industrial jobs (interpersonal str ess, expressive work). The content validity of the Karasek scales migh t be increased with the assessment of these domains. Giving support to Karasek's Demand/Control Model, the factor structure of the psychosoc ial work environment in the probability sample of five US metropolitan populations yielded two major dimensions: Control, and Physical Deman ds.