While extensive research has examined how working conditions influence employee strain, the reverse relationship—how strain affects working conditions— remains underexplored. To explain these reversed effects, possible underlying mechanisms include perceptual (shifts in the appraisal), stressor-creation (shifts in behaviour), drift, and the refuge hypothesis (shifts in structure). To narrow this gap, this study investigates reciprocal relationships between strain and job stressors, as well as job resources.
Bivariate latent growth curve analysis was conducted on a sample of N = 2001 Swiss workers from the Job-Stress-Index. Participants' exhaustion and several working conditions, including task-related uncertainty, social stressors with supervisors and colleagues, supportive supervisor behaviours, and job autonomy, were assessed using questionnaires in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Except for task-related uncertainty, exhaustion and job stressors rose across the 3 years, while job resources declined. Consistent with a bidirectional relationship, a stronger rise in exhaustion corresponded with a steeper increase in job stressors, and a greater drop in job resources. Furthermore, higher initial levels of exhaustion were associated with higher initial job stressors and lower job resources. Contrary to a drift or a chronically impaired appraisal of strained individuals, higher levels of exhaustion predicted an attenuated increase in social stressors with supervisors, and fewer declines in supportive supervisor behaviour, potentially indicating a refuge mechanism or attentive supervisors unwilling to burden already strained employees. Meanwhile, higher initial levels of social stressors with colleagues and supervisors predicted lower increases in exhaustion, while higher initial job resources predicted a stronger rise.
Taken together, the results indicate a reciprocal co-development between strain and job characteristics, while the changes in growth associated with initial levels of the other constructs may suggest habituation, adaptation, or potential ceiling effects. The findings emphasise the need for future studies on reversed effects.