Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
Published on: April 18, 2017
Do job demands and job control affect problem-solving?
Peter N Bergman1, Gunnel Ahlberg, Gun Johansson
1Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. peter.n.bergman@ki.se
Objective:
The Job Demand Control model presents combinations of working conditions that may facilitate learning, the active learning hypothesis, or have detrimental effects on health, the strain hypothesis. To test the active learning hypothesis, this study analysed the effects of job demands and job control on general problem-solving strategies.
Participants:
A population-based sample of 4,636 individuals (55% women, 45% men) with the same job characteristics measured at two times with a three year time lag was used.
Methods:
Main effects of demands, skill discretion, task authority and control, and the combined effects of demands and control were analysed in logistic regressions, on four outcomes representing general problem-solving strategies.
Results:
Those reporting high on skill discretion, task authority and control, as well as those reporting high demand/high control and low demand/high control job characteristics were more likely to state using problem solving strategies.
Conclusions:
Results suggest that working conditions including high levels of control may affect how individuals cope with problems and that workplace characteristics may affect behaviour in the non-work domain.
Related Concept Videos
Problem-Solving
Principle of Virtual Work: Problem Solving
To apply the principle of virtual work,...
Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
Principal Stresses: Problem Solving
Information Processing Approach
Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
