Systematic comparative content analysis of 11 psychosocial work environment questionnaires using a new taxonomy

Objectives. This paper embraces the following two objectives. 1) To propose an exhaustive, detailed taxonomy of work environment characteristics involved in psychosocial risks using an explicit, reproducible approach; 2) To apply this taxonomy to questionnaires on workplace psychosocial factors to provide a systematic description of their content.
Methods. This new taxonomy was developed by categorizing psychosocial factors present in the main theoretical models characterizing relationships between workplace environment, stress and health. The coauthors classified the questionnaire items most often quoted in scientific literature on the basis of this new taxonomy. Classification divergences were resolved by consensus.
Results. 315 work environment factors taken from 17 theoretical models were retained for developing the taxonomy, which was structured into 4 hierarchical levels and comprised a total of 53 categories. The 11 questionnaires analyzed included 608 items: 37 (6.1%) from the "physical environment" category, 77 (12.7%) from the "social environment" category, 156 (25.7%) from the "work activity" category, 151 (24.8%) from the "activity management" category and 122 (20.1%) from the "organizational context" category (65 items, i.e. 10.7%, could not be classified in the taxonomy).
Conclusions. There are major differences in content among the various questionnaires. This study offers users of psychosocial work environment questionnaires a simple mean for selecting a tool best suited to their problem area.