Description

The Subjective Satisfaction and Stress of Work and Occupation (SSSWO) scale is used to assess individuals’ personal perceptions of satisfaction and stress associated with their work and occupation. It focuses on the emotional and psychological responses individuals experience in relation to their work and professional duties.

The scale provides a structured way to examine two related aspects of occupational experience: the degree of satisfaction individuals derive from their work and professional field, and the level of stress they experience within the occupational environment.

Objective

The primary objective of the SSSWO is to assess subjective job satisfaction and work-related stress, providing information about an individual’s psychological well-being within the occupational setting.

This assessment may help organizations identify areas that require improvement in order to reduce occupational stress and increase employee satisfaction. The instrument may therefore be useful both for individual assessment and for the planning of organizational interventions.

Dimensions

According to the source material, the SSSWO includes items addressing dimensions such as satisfaction with work, satisfaction with the occupational field, perceived stress, and stress-management strategies.

Examining these dimensions together can provide a broader understanding of occupational experience by considering both positive and stressful aspects of working life.

Scoring

The SSSWO typically uses a Likert-type response scale, with the source document providing an example ranging from 1 = “Strongly Disagree” to 5 = “Strongly Agree.” Participants rate statements concerning their perceptions, experiences, and feelings about their work and occupation.

Interpretation of the scores should follow the scoring procedures of the specific version of the scale, particularly when separate dimensions or subscales are used.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the SSSWO may be analyzed to investigate relationships between job satisfaction, occupational stress, and psychological well-being. Depending on the research design, appropriate analyses may include descriptive statistics, correlations, group comparisons, and regression models.

The scale may also be used to explore how occupational demands, work-related conditions, social support, and coping strategies are associated with different levels of satisfaction and stress.

Psychometric Evaluation

Psychometric evaluation of the SSSWO may include examination of internal consistency, structural validity, and associations with related indicators of occupational and psychological functioning.

Factor analysis may be used to investigate the structure of the scale, while reliability indices can be applied to assess the consistency of its items. When the scale is used across different occupational populations, its psychometric properties should be examined within the relevant sample.

Applications

The SSSWO may be applied in occupational and organizational psychology, human resource management, occupational health, and employee well-being research.

It may be useful for identifying groups experiencing elevated work-related stress or lower job satisfaction, as well as for evaluating interventions designed to improve the work environment, psychological well-being, and quality of working life.

References

Judge, T. A., & Bono, J. E. (2001). Relationship of core self-evaluations traits—self-esteem, generalised self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability—with job satisfaction and job performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(1), 80–92.

Karasek, R. A. (1979). Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(2), 285–308.

Cohen, S., & Syme, S. L. (1985). Social Support and Health. Academic Press.

Spector, P. E. (1997). Job Satisfaction: Application, Assessment, Cause, and Consequence. Sage Publications.

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer.