Demand–Control–Support Questionnaire: Psychometric characteristics and measurement invariance across gender and academic ranks among Nigerian University teachers

Background: No occupational stress-related instrument has been psychometrically examined among Nigerian university teachers. Aim: This study examined the 17-item Demand–Control–Support Questionnaire (DCSQ-17) in terms of factor structure, reliability, validity, and measurement invariance across gender and academic ranks among Nigerian university teachers (n = 597) from a federal institution in Southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: They completed the DCSQ-17, in addition to the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZSAS). Results: The original DCSQ-17 three-dimensional model (demands, control, and support) was affirmed with confirmatory factor analysis. There was evidence to support the configural, metric, and scalar invariances across genders and academic ranks. The reliability coefficients (McDonald's omega) of the subscales were satisfactory. Criterion validity was supported through correlational analyses with the MBI and ZSAS. Conclusion: The DCSQ-17 is useful as a stress evaluation instrument among Nigerian university teachers. Further studies are needed to confirm the psychometric properties among other Nigerian occupational groups.