Validation of a short and generic Qualitative Job Insecurity Scale (QUAL-JIS)

The Qualitative Job Insecurity Scale (QUAL-JIS) has been used in job insecurity (JI) research for the past 9 years, without formal validation. The goal of the current study was to test the scale s psychometric properties. We checked the scale s reliability, as well as its validity, investigating evidence based on the scale s content, internal structure, and relations to other variables (convergent and discriminant, predictive and concurrent, as well as incremental predictive evidence). We additionally evaluated its cross-country and longitudinal invariance over three measurement times (6 months apart) in two countries (Romania and Belgium; NRO = 388, NBE = 1,992). We found evidence for the scale s reliability and validity, QUAL-JIS showing partial scalar invariance across time and between the two countries. Interestingly, qualitative JI measured with QUAL-JIS explained additional variance in the employees need for recovery above and beyond another popular qualitative JI scale

The five-factor traits as moderators between job insecurity and health: A vulnerability-stress perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the moderating effects of the broad personality traits associated with the five-factor model (FFM) of personality, on the relationship between qualitative and quantitative job insecurity ( JI) and physical and mental health complaints. Design/methodology/approach – Self-report data collected in a cross-sectional study from a heterogeneous sample of 469 Romanian employees was analyzed with hierarchical regressions in order to identify moderation effects between each personality trait, JI and health outcomes. Findings – Neuroticism and introversion amplify the relationship between JI and mental health complaints. None of the other personality traits showed any significant interaction with JI. No moderating effects were found for physical health complaints. Quantitative and qualitative JI show a high correlation and similar relationships with other variables, but may not be part of the same larger factor. Practical implications – The FFM has a lower contribution than expected in explaining the JI-health dynamic, with only 2 out of 5 reaching significance. The personality traits of neuroticism and introversion function as moderately strong vulnerability factors in the JI-mental health relationship, and may be used by managers in identifying employees who are at risk in situations when JI is likely to appear. Originality/value – The authors offer overall support for the main effect model in the relationship between JI and health, showing that, while some broad personality traits buffer the negative effect of JI in a fairly strong manner, this effect may be very difficult to completely abolish. The authors further show that quantitative and qualitative JI are very closely related facets of the broader JI construct.status: publishe

Discovery of Selective RNA-Binding Small Molecules by Affinity-Selection Mass Spectrometry

Recent advances in understanding the relevance of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) to disease have increased interest in drugging ncRNA with small molecules. The recent discovery of ribocil, a structurally distinct synthetic mimic of the natural ligand of the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitch, has revealed the potential chemical diversity of small molecules that target ncRNA. Affinity-selection mass spectrometry (AS-MS) is theoretically applicable to high-throughput screening (HTS) of small molecules binding to ncRNA. Here, we report the first application of the Automated Ligand Detection System (ALIS), an indirect AS-MS technique, for the selective detection of small molecule–ncRNA interactions, high-throughput screening against large unbiased small-molecule libraries, and identification and characterization of novel compounds (structurally distinct from both FMN and ribocil) that target the FMN riboswitch. Crystal structures reveal that different compounds induce various conformations of the FMN riboswitch, leading to different activity profiles. Our findings validate the ALIS platform for HTS screening for RNA-binding small molecules and further demonstrate that ncRNA can be broadly targeted by chemically diverse yet selective small molecules as therapeutics