The Job Demand-Control-Support Model and Employee Wellbeing: A Meta-Analysis of Previous Research

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of JDC/JDCS model on two indicators of employee wellbeing, namely job satisfaction and job-related anxiety. We searched for published and unpublished research using EBSCO , Emerald , Elsevier, PsycInfo, and PsychLit to locate relevant articles, conference abstracts, and theses. From a pool of 46 studies based on JDC/JDCS model, 19 published studies on the outcomes of interest (job satisfaction and job-related anxiety) were selected. Required data on the study characteristics, sample size, sample characteristics, methods, measures, methodologic quality, and correlation coefficients were extracted from each study. Meta-analytic procedures developed for analysing correlation coefficients were used to generate a pool of true score correlations which were then subjected to structural equations modeling to test the hypothesized relationships in MPlus. We found support for the additive effects of JDC/JDC model on both indicators of employee wellbeing. Where job demands was a stronger predictor of job-related anxiety, job resources (such as job control and social support) were consistent predictors of job satisfaction. Social support has stronger implications for reducing job-related anxiety and increasing job satisfaction.