Validation of Visual Analogue Scales of job demand and job control at the workplace: a cross-sectional study

International audienceObjectives Work-related stress is a major concern. One of the best performing models is the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) of Karasek, assessing job demand and job control using 18 items. However, the JCQ is long and complex. Visual Analogue Scales (VASs) are easy to use and quick to implement. VASs have been validated to assess pain and occupational stress; however, VASs demand and control have not been evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to validate the use of VAS demand and control compared with the 18 items of the JCQ. Design We implemented a cross-sectional observational study, by administering a self-reported questionnaire to the users of Wittyfit software, with a second test (retest) proposed 1 week later. In addition to JCQ, VAS demand and control, we measured sociodemographic outcomes, as well as characteristics of work, sleep, well-being, stress, depression and anxiety. Participants 190 volunteers French workers using WittyFit software participated in the study, and 129 completed the test–retest. Results VAS demand and VAS control correlated with the two Karasek domains from the JCQ, respectively, at 0.59 and 0.57 (p