A test of the job demands and resources (JD-R) model: Integration of challenge and hindrance demands

Recent studies of the JD-R model point out that some job demands do not relate to exhaustion and engagement as claimed in the original major proposition of the model, and they should be categorized as "challenge job demands (CJD)" versus "hindrance job demands (HJD)". Following that path, this thesis aimed at studying the relationships of two CJD (workload and information processing) and two HJD (role ambiguity and emotional demands) with two personal resources (optimism and self-efficacy), two job resources (autonomy and social support), exhaustion and engagement. After conducting various statistical analyses, including structural equation modelling, on data collected from a sample of 415 participants, it has been found that HJD and CJD differed in their relationships with engagement and exhaustion. While HJD was found to decrease engagement and increase exhaustion, CJD was found to increase exhaustion but had no significant effect on engagement. Both personal and job resources were found to relate positively to engagement and negatively to exhaustion. Additionally, resources moderated the relationship between CJD and exhaustion.