Effort-Reward Imbalance at Work and Prescription Drug Misuse-Prospective Evidence from Germany.

ABSTRACT: This study examines how work stress affects the misuse of prescription drugs to augment mental performance without medical necessity (i.e., cognitive enhancement). Based on the effort-reward imbalance model, it can be assumed that a misalignment of effort exerted and rewards received increases prescription drug misuse, especially if employees overcommit. To test these assumptions, we conducted a prospective study using a nationwide web-based sample of the working population in Germany (N = 11,197). Effort, reward, and overcommitment were measured at t₁ and the 12 month frequency of prescription drug misuse for enhancing cognitive performance was measured at a one-year follow-up (t₂). The results show that 2.6% of the respondents engaged in such dr

SUBMITTER: Sattler S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9265319 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature