Testing reciprocal relationships between job characteristics and psychological well-being: A cross-lagged structural equation model

This article describes a two-wave panel study which was carried out to exam ine reciprocal relationships between job characteristics and work-related p sychological well-being. Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 261 health care professionals using s tructural equation modelling (LISREL 8). Controlling for gender, age, and n egative affectivity, the results primarily supported the hypothesis that Ti me 1 job characteristics influence Time 2 psychological well-being. More sp ecifically, Time 2 job satisfaction was determined by Time 1 job demands an d workplace social support, respectively. Furthermore, there was also some preliminary but weak evidence for reversed cross-lagged effects since Time 1 emotional exhaustion seemed to be the causal dominant factor with respect to Time 2 (perceived) job demands. In conclusion, this study builds on earlier cross-sectional and longitudina l findings by eliminating confounding factors and diminishing methodologica l deficiencies. Empirical support for the influence of job characteristics on psychological well-being affirms what several theoretical models have po stulated to be the causal ordering among job characteristics and work-relat ed psychological well-being.