Unraveling job demand-control-support patterns and job stressors as predictors: Cross-sectional latent profile and network analysis among Italian hospital workers

Abstract

The Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) model postulates that patterns of job demand, job control, and social support lead to eight job types that are associated with well-being and health. This study employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify JDCS profiles among Italian hospital workers (n = 1464) and examined the predictive roles of role clarity and negative relationships at work on profile membership. Furthermore, adopting a network perspective, this study explored the interrelationships among JDCS factors within each identified profile. The LPA results revealed four profiles: isolated prisoner, moderate strain, low strain, and participatory leader. In addition, role clarity increased the likelihood of being included in the low-strain, moderate-strain, and participatory leader profiles. In contrast, negative relationships at work increased the risk of being included in the isolated prisoner profile. Finally, the results of network analysis revealed that networks differed across profiles in terms of density (interconnections between nodes) and edge strength (magnitude of relationships between nodes). Our study extends previous JDCS research by highlighting that researchers should consider empirically identified profiles rather than theoretically defined subgroups. The implications for stress theory, future research, and practice are also discussed.