A1 Journal article (refereed)
Intensified Job Demands and Cognitive Stress Symptoms : The Moderator Role of Individual Characteristics (2021)

Rantanen, J., Lyyra, P., Feldt, T., Villi, M., & Parviainen, T. (2021). Intensified Job Demands and Cognitive Stress Symptoms : The Moderator Role of Individual Characteristics. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 607172. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.607172

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Rantanen, Johanna; Lyyra, Pessi; Feldt, Taru; Villi, Mikko; Parviainen, Tiina

Journal or series: Frontiers in Psychology

eISSN: 1664-1078

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 22/04/2021

Volume: 12

Article number: 607172

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.607172

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/75213

Abstract

Intensified job demands (IJDs) originate in the general accelerated pace of society and ever-changing working conditions, which subject workers to increasing workloads and deadlines, constant planning and decision-making about one’s job and career, and the continual learning of new professional knowledge and skills. This study investigated how individual characteristics, namely negative and positive affectivity related to competence demands, and multitasking preference moderate the association between IJDs and cognitive stress symptoms among media workers (n = 833; 69% female, mean age 48 years). The results show that although IJDs were associated with higher cognitive stress symptoms at work, that is, difficulties in concentration, thinking clearly, decision-making, and memory, competence demands-related negative affectivity explained the most variance in cognitive stress symptoms. In addition, IJDs were more strongly associated with cognitive stress symptoms at work in individuals with high competence demand-related negative affectivity, and low multitasking preference (moderation effects). Altogether, the present findings suggest that HR practices or workplace interventions to ease employees’ negative affectivity from increasing competence demands at work could usefully support employees’ effective cognitive functioning when confronted with IJDs.

Keywords: occupational psychology; work burden; psychological strain; degree of difficulty; stress (biological phenomena); psychological factors; competence; affectivity

Free keywords: intensified job demands; cognitive stress symptoms; competence demands-related negative affectivity; competence demands-related positive affectivity; multitasking preference

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

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