Is Work Intensification Extra Stress?

There is increasing interest in investigating work intensification as a new job demand. However, its contribution beyond the state of work intensity remains unclear and is thus far limited to two specific occupations. In the present study, I examine work intensification and work intensity simultaneously in their relations to health complaints based on a representative sample of the German workforce. The results show that the feeling of intensified work has unique effects beyond the state of intense work and even amplifies the effect of work intensity on psychosomatic complaints. With regard to musculoskeletal complaints, the effects are weaker and the interaction is not significant. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.