Modification of the COPSOQ adapted for the IT sector – a journey of validation and insight for futures research, prognosis global risks

This study presents the validation process of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) adapted for the IT sector, focusing on its reliability and validity within a German-speaking context (IT professionals in Austria). The COPSOQ is an established instrument for assessing psychosocial work environment factors. While previous research has highlighted its applicability across various cultural settings, this paper delves into its psychometric properties through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using a sample of 200 IT professionals. The survey, conducted online, adapted the German COPSOQ including additional items relevant to the IT work environment, with some items being removed for greater efficiency and specificity. The analysis yielded seven factors, explaining 52.2% of the variance and reflecting key psychosocial dimensions: job identification, influencing factors, life satisfaction, self-determination, social support, life-dominant balance, and job concerns. The paper argues for the removal of certain items with loadings below .40 to enhance the questionnaire's economy and efficiency. Furthermore, it suggests that the refined COPSOQ could be a more effective tool for assessing work stress among IT workers, potentially leading to better-informed workplace interventions and improved prognosis for employee well-being. This research underscores the importance of adapting psychosocial assessment tools to specific industry contexts, providing a robust foundation for future studies on the work environment and its impact on quality of life and job satisfaction among IT professionals, and addressing global risks associated with workplace stress. Additionally, the paper ties these findings with broader global risks, such as technology-induced stress and the future of work, which are critical for developing resilient organizational frameworks.