Decision-Making Context and Stress: Administrative Officers and Investigators in Three Swedish Public Authorities

Abstract

This study analyzed how employees’ experience of stress and sleep quality are affected by aspects of the external decision-making context (work planning, clarity of goal formulations, available time, and dependence on other people) and an internal factor (judgmental self-doubt). The participants were administrative officers and investigators at three Swedish public authorities (N = 472): The National Tax Board, the Social Insurance Agency, and a county Police Authority. The results showed that the internal factor judgmental self-doubt was a slightly better predictor for perceived stress and sleep problems compared to the external decision-making context. Only minor differences between the organizations were found. These results are important to consider for human resource managers in the context of employee training and work planning.

KEYWORDS:

• decision making
• decision-making context
• organizations
• stress
• work

Notes

Note. JSDS = Judgmental Self-Doubt Scale, PSQ = Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Sleep = four items on sleep quality, Soc = The Social Insurance Agency, Tax = The National Tax Board, Pol = The county Police Authority.

Note. JSDS = Judgmental Self-Doubt Scale, PSQ = Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Sleep = four items on sleep quality, Soc = The Social Insurance Agency, Tax = The National Tax Board, Pol = The county Police Authority.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Note. JSDS = Judgmental Self-Doubt Scale, PSQ = Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Sleep = four items on sleep quality.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Note. PSQ = Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Sleep = four items on sleep quality, JSDS = Judgmental Self-Doubt Scale.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.