The Demand-Induced Strain Compensation Questionnaire: A Cross-national Validation Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health Psychology
• Organizational Behavior
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The demand-induced strain compensation model is a key theoretical framework for understanding job stress.
• The demand-induced strain compensation questionnaire (DISQ) is used to measure job demands and resources.
• Cross-national validation and psychometric evaluation of the DISQ are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychometric properties of the DISQ in Italian and Dutch employee samples.
• To validate the DISQ's measurement of job demands and resources across different national contexts.
• To assess the DISQ's reliability and its relationship with employee outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare a six-factor model against a two-factor model.
• The study involved Italian (n=422) and Dutch (n=1629) employee samples.
• Internal consistency and cross-national invariance of the DISQ were assessed.

Main Results:

• The six-factor model (cognitive, emotional, physical demands and resources) demonstrated a superior fit compared to the two-factor model.
• Measurement invariance was confirmed across Italian and Dutch samples.
• The DISQ dimensions showed satisfactory internal consistency and meaningful correlations with active learning, emotional exhaustion, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Conclusions:

• The DISQ is a psychometrically sound and reliable instrument for assessing job demands and resources in Italian and Dutch work environments.
• The findings support the cross-national applicability of the demand-induced strain compensation model.
• The DISQ effectively links job characteristics to crucial employee outcomes such as well-being and behavior.