Employee reactions to ergonomic job design: the moderating effects of health locus of control and self-efficacy

J Occup Health Psychol. 1997 Jan;2(1):11-24. doi: 10.1037//1076-8998.2.1.11.

Abstract

A field survey of 180 municipal government office employees (82% women, 21-75 years old) investigated the potential moderating effects of internal health locus of control (HLOC) and self-efficacy on employees' reactions to ergonomic job design. Internal HLOC moderated the associations between ergonomic job design and somatic complaints and turnover intentions, and, to a lesser extent, job satisfaction. Self-efficacy moderated the associations between job design and job satisfaction, somatic complaints, and, to a lesser extent, persistent pain. Employees with low self-efficacy or low internal HLOC were influenced more by their physical job conditions than those with high self-efficacy or high internal HLOC. Implications for the ergonomic design of offices are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude*
  • Ergonomics*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology*
  • Personality Inventory
  • Self Concept
  • Somatoform Disorders / prevention & control
  • Somatoform Disorders / psychology*