Work stress and work based learning in secondary education: Testing the Karasek model

Abstract

In this study the Job Demand-Control model was used to study the quality of working life of Dutch secondary teachers. The Job Demand-Control model of Karasek is a theoretical model in which stress and learning are both considered as dependent variables which are influenced by three different task characteristics: job demands, job control, and social support. This model was tested for Dutch secondary teachers (n = 542). Results shed light on the relationships between task characteristics, work stress, and work based learning. However, it is concluded that the Karasek model is better suited for explaining stress than for explaining learning. To explain work based learning more factors have to be taken into account in order to built an adequate theoretical model