In the last years, strong efforts have been made to construct theoretical and methodological models that evaluate work characteristics and health effects in occupational groups. Among the proposed models, the Demand-Control Model has had a worldwide use. This model identifies two job dimensions in the work situation: psychological job demand and job control. The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) has been proposed as an instrument for measuring these work dimensions. This study aim to present the theoretical and methodological bases of the Demand-Control Model and to discuss this model capability to identify different work situations in the Brazilian context, using the JCQ. Preliminary results from two cross-sectional epidemiological studies are presented and discussed in this article. These studies evaluated work psychosocial aspects, using the JCQ, and mental health, using the SRQ-20. The results indicated a good model capability to identify different risk situations for workers' mental health. Aspects related to psychological demand were much strongly associated with high prevalence of minor psychological distress than the aspects related to control.
Demand-Control Model; Mental health; Job Content Questionnaire; Stress
