A Two-Wave Study of the Impact of Job Characteristics and Motivators on Perceived Stress among Information Technology (IT) Consultants

The aim of the study was to test the relationship between job characteristics (job demands, job control) and perceived stress (e.g., stressed, pressured, tense) with motivators (e.g., recognition, achievement, the work itself, the possibility for growth and work significance) as the mediating variable. In this cross-sectional study a web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 380 information technology (IT) consultants at ten IT consultancy companies in Sweden. The results showed that job demand was positively related to perceived stress and that motivators mediate the relationship between job control and perceived stress. The results point to the importance of motivators among IT consultants in the framework of job stress and performance. The managers’ impact on the work characteristics in the work environment is also discussed.