This study investigates w h e th e r a consistent relationship exists betw een com puterization and job control. It also exam ines the role of job control as a predictor of stress sym ptom s typical for data entry and w o rd processing (VD U ) w ork. Two groups of VDU users and tw o com parable non-V D Uuser groups took part in this study. A special questionnaire m ade it possible to assess global job control and fou r indexes of control related to specific aspects of w ork ( control over

more »

... o f tasks and m ethods, control o ver tim e fram e, control related to one's skill, and control related to participation in the decision-m aking process). Results did not show an unequivocal relation betw een com puterization and the latitude of control. The latitude o f control depends on the task perform ed and the aspect of control w e are considering. Regression analyses showed that global control is a good predictor of job satisfaction, som e m ood disturbances, and visual com plaints. T he other aspects o f control are related in a variety o f w ays to stress sym ptom s. T he role o f a Type A behavior pattern in the relationship betw een job control and stress sym ptom s varies depending on w hich aspect o f control is being considered. It w as concluded that because o f the high functional differences betw een various aspects o f control, it is better to avoid using the concept of global control and, w hen possible, apply specific indexes o f control. job control VDU work stress