Executive summary of my PhD thesis

Four main research objectives were studied in this dissertation. In the first chapter, the theoretical underpinnings for these research questions were elaborated upon in a literature review, followed by four empirical chapters. First, generalizability and relevance of the Triple-Match Principle (TMP; de Jonge & Dormann, 2006) in the technology sector was investigated. The TMP proposes that the strongest, interactive relationships between job demands and job resources are observed when job demands, job resources and outcomes are based on qualitatively identical dimensions (i.e. cognitive, emotional, or physical). Results from a cross-sectional study among 1533 employees in chapter 2 and a two-wave longitudinal study among 720 employees in the technology sector in chapter 4 largely confirmed the TMP in the technology sector. Second, the balance principle was investigated in the technology sector. The balance principle proposes that a balanced mixture of job demands and matching job resources is associated with positive employee well-being outcomes. Cross-sectional results in chapter 3 provided partial support in a sample of 207 informatics, but no longitudinal evidence was found in chapter 4 in a sample of 720 employees in the technology sector. Third, the compensation principle was investigated in the technology sector. The compensation principle states that the negative effects of job demands can be best compensated by matching job resources. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal findings largely supported the compensation principle in chapters 2 and 4. Fourth, the role of personal characteristics on the relations between work characteristics and job strain was studied in a two-wave panel study among employees in the technology sector (n = 711). Results in chapter 5 revealed that emotional job demands were least likely to result in emotional exhaustion when employees were provided with high emotional job resources and scored high on emotional support seeking. In the final chapter, the empirical findings of this dissertation are briefly summarized. The strengths and limitations of this dissertation, and directions for future research are outlined from a theoretical and practical perspective.