Psychometric properties of the HSE Indicator Tool: evidence from Argentina

Abstract Background The Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards Indicator Tool (MSIT) is a 35-item self-report questionnaire that assesses seven psychosocial risk factors associated with work-related stress. Although the instrument has been validated in the UK, Italy, Iran and Malta, no validation studies have been carried out in Latin America. Aims To examine the factor structure, validity and reliability of the MSIT among Argentine employees. Methods A sample of employees of different organizations from Rafaela and Rosario, Argentina, completed an anonymous questionnaire that included the Argentine MSIT and specific scales to measure job satisfaction, workplace resilience and perceived mental and physical health (12-item Short Form Health Survey). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the factor structure of the Argentine MSIT. Results A total of 532 employees participated in the study (74% response rate). After testing three measurement models, the final respecified model was composed of 24 items distributed in six factors (demands, control, manager support, peer support, relationships and role clarity), showing satisfactory fit indices. The original MSIT change factor was discarded. Composite reliability ranged from 0.70 to 0.82. Although all dimensions showed adequate discriminant validity, convergent validity for control, role clarity and relationships is a matter of concern (average variance extracted values ≤ 0.50). Criterion-related validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between the MSIT subscales and job satisfaction, workplace resilience and mental and physical health. Conclusions The Argentine version of the MSIT presents good psychometric properties for use among employees of the region. Further research is needed to provide more evidence on the convergent validity of the questionnaire. The Management Standards Indicator Tool (MSIT) is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess seven psychosocial hazards associated with work-related stress: demands, control, manager support, peer support, interpersonal relationships, role clarity and organizational change. This research examined the psychometric properties of the MSIT with data from 532 Argentine employees. Although some modifications were introduced to the original scale, we can conclude that the Argentine MSIT is a reliable and valid measure to identify stress in organizations.