Job Demands–Control Theory

The job demands–control model was developed by Robert Karasek Jr. in 1979 to merge two key topics (i.e., demands and control) that had previously been studied relatively independently in order to better understand psychosocial strain experienced by workers.

The first component of the model, job demands, refers to the different job tasks and responsibilities placed on an employee at work. The general argument is that, in most instances, more demands placed on employees lead to an increase in experienced mental strain, which is operationalized in terms of job satisfaction, exhaustion, depression, and other manifestations of mental strain, such as physical illness. The second component, decision latitude, also termed job control, refers to the discretion employees have in making decisions at work. Job control is thought to ...