Decent Work dimensions as a demand and or a resource: Association with workers’ risk behaviours

Abstract

Decent Work (DW), the 8th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, encompasses seven dimensions, reflecting people’s work aspirations. Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study explores how DW dimensions can simultaneously function as resources (when adequately met) and demands (when requiring significant effort to address deficits). Using a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, with data collected through standardized questionnaires from active workers in Spain (n=1313) and Portugal (n=494), this study explores configurations of DW dimensions as demands and/or resources and their association with self-reported risk behaviours like alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical inactivity. A two-step cluster analysis identified four Decent Work Demands and Resources (DWDaR) profiles: <em>Demanding, Resourceful, Rich, and Poor DW</em>. "Adequate working time and workload" included the highest demand, while "Fundamental principles and values at work" showed the highest resource. The profiles showed significant differences in risk behaviours. The Demanding DW profile was associated with lower alcohol consumption and physical activity compared to the Resourceful DW profile. Participants in the Poor DW profile exhibited lower physical activity than those in the Resourceful DW profile. No significant differences in smoking behaviours were observed among the profiles. This study integrates JD-R theory with DW, offering practical and theoretical implications for policymakers, organizations and future research.