Development and Validation of a Questionnaire for Measuring Resources and Demands at Work (ReDema)

Stress and well-being research at work has significantly increased over the past century. In this paper, we develop and validate a questionnaire that enables companies and their employees to assess their demands and resources at work in a valid and parsimonious manner. Based on the JD-R theory, the questionnaire comprises 28 different job demands and resources that cover not only the broad range of demands and resources existing in the work stress literature but also the intensified technology use initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three independent studies (total N = 4,000 participants) validated the questionnaire, revealing construct and criterion validity. Furthermore, the analyses provided predictive validity for job demands (emotional exhaustion, depression, negative affect, counterproductive work behavior, and rumination) and resources (sleep quality, work engagement, positive affect, motivation, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction), as well as incremental validity over existing measures. The ReDema Questionnaire offers a valid and comprehensive tool to identify resources and demands in the work context, while helping organizations to implement targeted interventions to promote psychological well-being in the workplace.