The impact of job characteristics on work-related well- being of handicapped employees in relation to pain

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of pain complaints (none, moderate, severe pain), job demands and decision latitude on indices of work-related well-being among 165 subjects with functional impairments induced by a disease and/or an injury. After controlling for age, working hours and level of job demands, decision latitude significantly predicted the level of work reluctancy and recovery need. After controlling for age and working hours, recovery need is predicted not only by enduring severe pain and by job demands, but, in addition, to that by decision latitude. Heavy job demands in combination with low decision latitude place a load on all workers, confirming the job demand/control model of Karasek. Moreover, employees suffering from severe pain benefit more from perceived control over their work than those with moderate or no pain complaints.

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