[An empirical investigation of the demand-control-social support model: effects on burnout and on somatic complaints among nursing staff].

The present study investigated the relationship between job characteristics and well-being dimensions (burnout and somatic complaints) in a group of 271 nurses. The study, based on Karasek and Theorell's theoretic model of demand-control-social support, aimed to test the following hypotheses: (a) that there is a linear association between each job dimension (demand, control, social support) and indexes of stress (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment and somatization); (b) whether there is an additive or interactive ("buffer") action among the model variables in predicting stress. Concerning the hypothesis of linearity, regression analysis revealed two non-linear associations: between job control and emotional exhaustion, and between social support and the level of somatic symptoms. Concerning the second hypothesis, controlling for age and gender, results of hierarchical regression indicated that job control and social support combine in different additive patterns with job demands to explain outcomes of well-being. Findings confirmed the significant role of socio-demographic variables (age and gender) in predicting occupational strain.