The Role of Psychosocial Work Environment and Time Management in Understanding Perceived Stress and Job Satisfaction in Office Work

Abstract: In recent years an increase in stress and mental strain in the workplace has been reported for instance in office work (Arbetsmiljöverket, 2014). This study examined a model that combines concepts from Karasek and Theorell´s (1990) Job Demand-Control-Support model, which has earlier been related to stress, with Macan´s (1994) Time Management Behavioral model. The aim of the study was to investigate if perceived demands, control, support and time management were related to stress and job satisfaction. In addition the aim was to investigate if time management behaviors contribute to explaining perceived stress and job satisfaction beyond perceived demands, control, and support. By means of an online survey, responses from 124 office workers employed in nine different companies, were received. Scales measuring demands, control, support, and time management behavior were used. The main finding was that stress was only explained by high demands, low control, and low support. Moreover two types of time management behaviors (setting goals and mechanisms for time management) explained variance in job satisfaction beyond what the demands, control, and support did. The implications of these findings were discussed and directions for future research were proposed.