Consequences of work stress: An application of Warr s Vitamin Model to predict anxiety and depression

Warr s vitamin model (1994, 1996) is a prevalent theoretical model on occupational stress, and it presents hypothesis pretty different to other prevalent model of work stress as well as accurate predictions. Amongst the most relevant hypothesis are those of non-linear relationships between working conditions and worker s well-being, and the moderator effects of personal characteristics on the stressors-well-being relationships. Nevertheless of its theoretical appealing Warr s model has not been widely tested, and when empirically tested the results are contradictory. The aim of this paper is to empirically test the two broad hypothesis of Warr s vitamin model: non-linear effects of working conditions on well-being, and moderator effects of personal characteristics on these relationships. The dependent variables used are the general health questionnaire and its two components, anxiety and depression. Results do not support the non-linear hypothesis of Warr s model, and the support for the moderator effects of personal characteristics on the stressors-well being is weak.