Megan McDonald
DARE Project: Resources and Demands Approach to Understanding Attitudes and Behaviours: A Multi-domain Perspective
Program(s) of Study: Bachelor of Commerce & Human Resource Management
Project Supervisor: James Chowhan
This experience has deepened my understanding of how workplace dynamics affect employee well-being and performance, which aligns with my goals of pursuing a career in human resource management.
Project Description:
The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, introduced by Demerouti et al. (2001), provides a comprehensive framework for examining how different workplace factors shape employee experiences and outcomes. The JD-R model is distinctive in that it incorporates both positive and negative contributors to employee well-being. Within this model, job demands are elements of work that require sustained physical or psychological effort and can pose risks to well-being, while job resources are aspects of the job—such as support, autonomy, or rewards—that provide value to the employee helping to mitigate the cost of demands. Empirical research shows that high job demands, when not offset by adequate job resources, are linked to increased strain and reduced motivation. Conversely, job resources can buffer the negative effects of demands, promote motivation, and enhance positive outcomes like job performance and life well-being. My role within this project is to gather data from various articles to be used in a meta-analysis for this topic.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.