Job demands, job resources, and work engagement of Japanese employees: a prospective cohort study

Purpose

Research on the prospective association of job demands and job resources with work engagement is still limited in Asian countries, such as Japan. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prospective association of job demands (i.e., psychological demands and extrinsic effort) and job resources (i.e., decision latitude, supervisor support, co-worker support, and extrinsic reward), based on the job demands-control (JD-C) [or demand-control-support (DCS)] model and the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, with work engagement among Japanese employees.

Methods

The participants included 423 males and 672 females from five branches of a manufacturing company in Japan. Self-administered questionnaires, including the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERIQ), the nine-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9), and demographic characteristics, were administered at baseline (August 2009). At one-year follow-up (August 2010), the UWES-9 was used again to assess work engagement. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted.

Results

After adjusting for demographic characteristics and work engagement at baseline, higher psychological demands and decision latitude were positively and significantly associated with greater work engagement at follow-up (β = 0.054, p = 0.020 for psychological demands and β = 0.061, p = 0.020 for decision latitude).

Conclusions

Having higher psychological demands and decision latitude may enhance work engagement among Japanese employees.     

Psychometric properties of the French version of the Karasek Job Content Questionnaire: a study of the scales of decision latitude, psychological demands, social support, and physical demands in the GAZEL cohort

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the French version of the Karasek Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) for the recommended scales of psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, and physical demands. Internal consistency, factorial validity, and convergent validity were examined in a large occupational cohort of men and women. METHODS: This study was based on the GAZEL cohort composed of workers aged 40-50 years for men and 35-50 years for women employed by the French national electric and gas company Electricité De France-Gaz De France (EDF-GDF) in 1989. This cohort has been followed up since 1989 by means of yearly self-administered questionnaires and by the collection of data provided by the company. RESULTS: The study population included the 11,447 GAZEL subjects, 8,277 men and 3,170 women, who were working and who answered the French version of the JCQ in 1997. Cronbach's alpha coefficients higher than 0.65 supported the internal consistency of the JCQ scales and subscales. The results of exploratory factor analysis were consistent with the expected dimensions. Physical demands, supervisor support, and co-worker support were clearly found. However, for decision latitude, 'repetitive work' and 'learn new things' displayed low factor loadings. For psychological demands, low factor loadings were observed for 'conflicting demands', 'wait on others', and 'no excessive work'. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the instrument construct in six latent factors: psychological demands, skill discretion, decision authority, supervisor support, co-worker support, and physical demands, although the items mentioned earlier displayed low standardized factor loadings. The associations between the JCQ scales and gender, age, educational level, occupational grade, and job satisfaction were explored using analysis of variance and chi-square test, and supported the convergent validity. CONCLUSION: Although our results of factor analysis could invite the revision of the two scales of decision latitude and psychological demands, this study provided evidence of the validity of the French version of the four JCQ scales of psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, and physical demands among a large population consisting of French working men and women.     

The relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and fatigue and psychological distress

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations between psychosocial work characteristics and fatigue in employees in the Maastricht Cohort Study. A second objective was to compare the relationships for fatigue versus psychological distress with these psychosocial work characteristics. METHODS: The design was cross-sectional and included 11,020 employees who responded to the self-administered baseline questionnaire of the Maastricht Cohort Study. Fatigue was measured with the Checklist Individual Strength, a 20-item self-report instrument. Psychological distress was measured with the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire. Psychosocial work characteristics comprised: psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support at work as measured by the Job Content Questionnaire, as well as emotional demands at work, physical demands at work, job insecurity, and conflict with supervisor/co-worker, which were assessed with items from existing Dutch questionnaires. RESULTS: Low decision latitude and low social support at work were associated with fatigue in both men and women. Associations were also found between emotional demands at work, job insecurity, physical demands and conflict with supervisor and fatigue in men; and high psychological demands and fatigue in women. As regards psychological distress, there was no association with low decision latitude, but strong associations with emotional demands and conflict with supervisor in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides strong support for associations between psychosocial work characteristics and fatigue in men and women, even after adjustment for psychological distress. Moreover, it suggests some differential effects of psychosocial work characteristics on fatigue and psychological distress.     

Job strain, social support in the workplace, and haemoglobin A1c in Japanese men

OBJECTIVES—To examine the association between job strain (defined in the model of job demands and job control) and social support at the workplace with levels of glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
METHODS—All male employees aged 40-60 in a manufacturing firm, Japan, were invited to take part in the study. A blood sample was taken from the participants and HbA1c (%) was measured. Job strain and social support at the workplace were assessed with the job content questionnaire (JCQ). After excluding those who had a history of diabetes mellitus or other chronic diseases, data from 268 male day workers were analyzed.
RESULTS—Age adjusted average concentrations of HbA1c were significantly higher in the highest quartile group of job strain or the lowest quartile group of social support at the workplace (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that job strain was significantly and positively related to HbA1c (p<0.05), whereas social support at the workplace was significantly and negatively related to HbA1c (p<0.05), both after controlling for other covariates.
CONCLUSIONS—Greater job strain and lower social support at the workplace may be associated with increased concentrations of HbA1c. Increased blood glucose may be a physiological mediator between job strain or social support at the workplace and coronary heart disease.


Keywords: job strain; social support; glycosylated haemoglobin; Japan     

Work-home interface stress: an important predictor of emotional exhaustion 15 years into a medical career

The importance of work-home interface stress can vary throughout a medical career and between genders. We studied changes in work-home interface stress over 5 yr, and their prediction of emotional exhaustion (main dimension of burn-out), controlled for other variables. A nationwide doctor cohort (NORDOC; n=293) completed questionnaires at 10 and 15 yr after graduation. Changes over the period were examined and predictors of emotional exhaustion analyzed using linear regression. Levels of work-home interface stress declined, whereas emotional exhaustion stayed on the same level. Lack of reduction in work-home interface stress was an independent predictor of emotional exhaustion in year 15 (β=−0.21, p=0.001). Additional independent predictors were reduction in support from colleagues (β=0.11, p=0.04) and emotional exhaustion at baseline (β=0.62, p<0.001). Collegial support was a more important predictor for men than for women. In separate analyses, significant adjusted predictors were lack of reduction in work-home interface stress among women, and reduction of collegial support and lack of reduction in working hours among men. Thus, change in work-home interface stress is a key independent predictor of emotional exhaustion among doctors 15 yr after graduation. Some gender differences in predictors of emotional exhaustion were found.     

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese (mainland) version of Job Content Questionnaire: a study in university hospitals

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese (mainland) version of Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), this validation study was conducted in university hospitals among 193 men and 581 women health care workers. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for decision latitude, psychological job demands and social support ranged from 0.56 to 0.82, which indicated that psychological job demands had lower internal consistency. The decision latitude displayed a negative correlation with psychological job demands and a positive correlation with social support. Exploratory factor analysis showed 3 meaningful factors that could explain the 3 theoretical dimensions of job strain model. Apart from some uncertainty over psychological job demands particularly, it is concluded that the Chinese (mainland) version of JCQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring job stressors, and is applicable to Chinese working population.     

Job strain, social support at work, and incidence of myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: The combination of high psychological job demands and low decision latitude (high job strain) has been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. It has been proposed that this may also be the case for low social support at work. The aim of this study was to analyse the relations between these psychosocial factors and incidence of myocardial infarction. METHODS: Associations between psychosocial work characteristics and incidence of myocardial infarction was investigated through a population based case-control study. The study base comprised employed men and women in five Swedish counties during the years 1976-84. Cases of first myocardial infarction were identified from hospital discharge registers and death records from outside hospital, controls were selected through a random sample, and psychosocial work environment was assessed through a job exposure matrix on the basis of the occupation in the 1970 and 1975 censuses. RESULTS: An increased incidence of myocardial infarction was found for men and women in occupations characterised by low decision latitude. For men this increase was seen primarily in combination with high psychological demands (high job strain) and low social support at work. Younger men (30-54 years of age) in occupations with both high job strain and low social support at work had a relative risk of 1.79 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.22 to 2.65) compared with subjects in low strain and high social support jobs after controlling for age, county of residence, and socioeconomic group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that jobs characterised by low decision latitude, high job strain, or low social support at work may be associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction. If these associations are causal they may be of substantial importance from the point of view of workers' health.

 

     

Burn and Cut Injuries Related to Job Stress among Kitchen Workers in Japan

To clarify the correlation between kitchen work-related burns and cuts and job stress, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted involving 991 kitchen workers among 126 kitchen facilities. The demographics, condition of burns and cuts, job stress with the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), health condition, and work-related and environmental factors were surveyed. Multiple logistic regression models and trend tests were used according to quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) of each sub-scale BJSQ. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, burns/cuts were associated with a higher score category (Q4) of job demands (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.10–6.02/OR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.30–5.69), psychological stress (OR: 4.49, 95% CI: 2.05–9.81/OR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.84–6.72), and physical stress (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.20–4.98/OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.16–4.01). The ORs of the burn/cut injures increased from Q1 to Q4 with job demands (p for trend = 0.045/0.003), psychological stress (p for trend<0.001/0.001), and physical stress (p for trend = 0.006/0.005), respectively. These findings suggest that kitchen work-related burns and cuts are more likely to be correlated with job stress, and the higher the job stress score, the higher the frequency of burns and cuts among kitchen workers.     

医生工作满意度与职业紧张的关系

目的探讨医生工作满意度与职业紧张的关系,提高医生工作满意度。方法采用横断面调查方法,于2010年的11、12月随机抽取辽宁省某市4所综合医院的355名医生进行问卷调查。应用明尼苏达满意度问卷(MSQ)测量工作满意度,工作内容问卷(JCQ)及付出-回报失衡问卷(ERI)测量职业紧张,多元回归分析探讨医生工作满意度与职业紧张的关系。结果该市医生工作满意度总分为61.52±13.55。按照多元线性回归标准化系数的顺序,决策自主、内在投入、上级支持、技术自主、回报及外在付出与医生工作满意度密切相关。结论医生职业紧张对工作满意度有预测作用。应降低职业紧张,保护和增进医生的身心健康,提高其工作满意度及医疗服务质量。     

Health-related quality of life association with work-related stress and social support among female and male disabled employees

ABSTRACT

Few studies have focused on adverse relations of job strain to health in disabled employees by gender. In this study, the author explores gender differences in work-related stress, social support, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among 106 disabled employees in an electronics manufacturing plant during 2012–2013, using questionnaire data on demographics, perceived work-related stress, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (C-JCQ), and HRQoL. The prevalence of stress related to workload, colleagues, and supervisor were 26.4%, 14.1%, and 8.5%, respectively. Disabled females had higher scores for psychological job demand than male disabled employees (p = .0219). Increasing psychological job demand scores were adversely related to physical function scores (β = ?1.6) in males, whereas increasing decision latitude scores were positively related to role-limitation due to physical function (β = 2.3), general health (β = 1.2), vitality (β = 1.3), role-limitation due to emotional health (β = 2.6), and mental health (β = 0.9) scores in females. These results provide a better understanding of the HRQoL in female and male disabled workers, allowing for the development of stress-prevention programs specific for gender in disabled laborers.     

Perceived job stress and incidence of coronary events: 3-year follow-up of the Belgian Job Stress Project cohort

Psychosocial characteristics have been linked to coronary heart disease. In the Belgian Job Stress Project (1994-1999), the authors examined the independent role of perceived job stress on the short-term incidence of clinical manifest coronary events in a large occupational cohort. A total of 14,337 middle-aged men completed the Job Content Questionnaire to determine the dimensions of the extended job strain model, job demands, decision latitude, and social support. Jobs were categorized into high strain, low strain, active jobs, and passive jobs. During the 3-year follow-up, 87 coronary events were registered. At baseline, 17% of workers experienced high strain. Job demands and decision latitude were not significantly related to the development of coronary heart disease after adjustment for covariates. The 38% risk excess among subjects classified in the high-strain category did not reach statistical significance. However, coronary heart disease incidence was substantially associated with the social support scale independently of other risk factors, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 4.0) between extreme tertiles. No convincing evidence for an association of job demands, decision latitude, or job strain with the short-term incidence of coronary heart disease was found. However, our study underscores the importance of a supportive social work environment in the prevention of coronary heart disease.     

Work Organization and Health Among Immigrant Women: Latina Manual Workers in North Carolina

Objectives. We sought to describe work organization attributes for employed immigrant Latinas and determine associations of work organization with physical health, mental health, and health-related quality of life.Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 319 employed Latinas in western North Carolina (2009–2011). Measures included job demands (heavy load, awkward posture, psychological demand), decision latitude (skill variety, job control), support (supervisor control, safety climate), musculoskeletal symptoms, mental health (depressive symptoms), and mental (MCS) and physical component score (PCS) health-related quality of life.Results. Three fifths reported musculoskeletal symptoms. Mean scores for depression, MCS, and PCS were 6.2 (SE = 0.2), 38.3 (SE = 0.5), and 42.8 (SE = 0.3), respectively. Greater job demands (heavy load, awkward posture, greater psychological demand) were associated with more musculoskeletal and depressive symptoms and worse MCS. Less decision latitude (lower skill variety, job control) was associated with more musculoskeletal and depressive symptoms. Greater support (supervisor’s power and safety climate) was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and better MCS.Conclusions. Work organization should be considered to improve occupational health of vulnerable women workers. Additional research should delineate the links between work organization and health among vulnerable workers.Immigrant and low-income workers constitute a vulnerable population that is at significant risk for occupational injury and illness. These workers often have the most demanding jobs in the most dangerous industry sectors (e.g., agriculture, construction).1-5 When they work in less hazardous sectors, such as manufacturing, they generally work in industries such as poultry and meat processing, which have substantial hazards and few protections.6-7 These manufacturing hazards include exposure to toxicants (e.g., cleaners, solvents), exposure to biological materials (e.g., feces, dander), repetitive motion injuries, slips and falls, and lacerations and amputation from sharp tools and machinery.Although addressing conventional risk factors (e.g., chemical and mechanical exposures) remains important for improving the health of immigrant and low-income workers, greater attention is being given to how work organization affects their health and safety.5,8 The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)9 defines “work organization” as the processes and organizational practices that influence job design. Work organization domains include the timing of when work is performed, such as shifts and hours worked, seasonality, and flexibility; the physical and psychological demands of work; the control or decision latitude workers have, including variation in effort and choice in performing work; and style of supervision and support, including supervisor support and control and work safety climate.10,11Work organization has most often been considered in its effects on job satisfaction and health of white-collar workers. Although work organization is believed to be particularly influential in the health and safety of vulnerable workers, little research has examined work organization and health outcomes for vulnerable populations such as immigrant workers.5,8,12 Even less research has focused on work organization among immigrant women. For example, recent analyses of work organization and health among US immigrant workers in agriculture13-15 and construction16-18 have shown that, among agricultural workers, job demands are associated with poorer physical health13; high worker control is associated with better mental health14; and poor safety climate is associated with greater musculoskeletal discomfort.15 Among construction workers, poor work safety climate is associated with poor work safety behavior.16 However, participants in these studies have been almost exclusively male.Recent analyses of work organization and health among immigrant poultry processing workers have included a substantial number of women.19-22 These analyses showed that management practices, such as poor safety commitment, and job design, such as authority, variety, psychological workload, frequent awkward posture, and repetitive movement, are associated with risk of recent musculoskeletal problems, respiratory problems, and self-reported injury or illness.19-21 In a similar way, organizational hazards, including low job control and high psychological demand, are associated with increased risk for epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, and back pain.22 However, these analyses have not focused on women or on gender differences. A qualitative analysis of female immigrant household domestic workers in Spain reported that such work organization factors as job control affect health.23,24The job demand–control–support model10,11 provides a framework for examining the association of work organization and health among women immigrant manual workers. This model posits that jobs with greater physical and psychological demand or stressors will result in poorer health. However, jobs with greater control or decision latitude can result in better health and can offset the effects of demand leading to poor health. Finally, support of peers and supervisors, including perceived safety climate25 (how workers perceive supervisors’ valuing safety over production) reduces occupational injury and buffers the effects of job demands.The place of work organization in the health of immigrant women is particularly important. These women have major family, child care, and domestic responsibilities that they need to integrate into their work responsibilities.12,26 Immigrant women are also extremely vulnerable to workplace physical and sexual harassment, as they often do not speak English, do not know their rights, and may lack proper work documents.27-29This analysis had 2 goals. The first was to delineate work organization attributes of full-time employed immigrant Latinas with manual occupations. The work organization attributes included indicators of job demands, decision latitude, and support. The second goal was to determine the associations of work organization attributes with health characteristics of these women, including physical health, mental health, and health-related quality of life. We tested 3 hypotheses: (1) greater job demands will be associated with poorer physical health, mental health, and health-related quality of life; (2) greater decision latitude will be associated with better physical health, mental health, and health-related quality of life; and (3) greater job support (higher perceived supervisor control, better job safety climate) will be associated with better physical health, mental health, and health-related quality of life.     

Community Characteristics are Associated with Blood Pressure Levels in a Racially Integrated Community

Community problems have been associated with higher, and community resources and social cohesion with lower, blood pressure. However, prior studies have not accounted for potential confounding by residential racial segregation. This study tested associations between community characteristics and blood pressure levels and prevalent hypertension in a racially integrated community. The Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities Study measured blood pressure in residents of two contiguous racially integrated and low-income US Census Tracts. Community characteristics included a standardized community problem score and binary indicators for community social cohesion, having a community leader available, and having at least one community resource observed on the participant’s block. In adjusted models, greater community problems and proximity to resources were associated with lower systolic (β = −2.020, p = 0.028; β = −4.132, p = 0.010) and diastolic (β = −1.261, p = 0.038; β = −2.290, 0.031) blood pressure, respectively, among whites (n = 548). Social cohesion was associated with higher systolic (β = 4.905, p = 0.009) and diastolic blood pressure (β = 3.379, p = 0.008) among African Americans (n = 777). In one racially integrated low-income community, community characteristics were associated with blood pressure levels, and associations differed by race. Directions of associations for two findings differed from prior studies; greater community problem was associated with lower blood pressure in whites and community social cohesion was associated with higher blood pressure in African Americans. These findings may be due to exposure to adverse environmental conditions and hypertensive risk factors in this low-income community.     

Energy-Adjusted Dietary Intakes Are Associated with Perceived Barriers to Healthy Eating but Not Food Insecurity or Sports Nutrition Knowledge in a Pilot Study of ROTC Cadets

Military service is inherently demanding and, due to the nature of these demands, the term “tactical athlete” has been coined to capture the physical requirements of the profession. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are a unique subset of the military service community, and the complexity of their training and educational pursuits increases their susceptibility to unhealthy eating patterns. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationship between the perceived barriers to healthy eating, food insecurity, sports nutrition knowledge, and dietary patterns among Army ROTC cadets. The usual dietary intake was gathered from (N = 37) cadets using the General Nutrition Assessment Food Frequency Questionnaire. The perceived barriers to healthy eating were measured using a set of scales consisting of social barriers (6 items, α = 0.86), access barriers (2 items, α = 0.95), and personal barriers (2 items, α = 0.67), with higher-scale scores indicating greater perceived barriers. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to measure the association between the energy-adjusted dietary intakes and the scores on the barriers scales. Energy-adjusted intakes of calcium (ρ = −0.47, p ≤ 0.01), fiber (ρ = −0.35, p = 0.03), vitamin A (ρ = −0.46, p ≤ 0.01), vitamin C (ρ = −0.43, p ≤ 0.01), fruit (ρ = −0.34, p = 0.04), and vegetables (ρ = −0.50, p ≤ 0.01) were negatively correlated with the perceived personal barrier scores. The energy-adjusted intakes of fiber (ρ = −0.36, p = 0.03), vitamin C (ρ = −0.37, p = 0.03), and vitamin E (ρ = −0.45, p ≤.01) were negatively correlated with perceived social barriers, while energy-adjusted vitamin C intake was negatively correlated with perceived access barriers (ρ = −0.40, p = 0.01). Although additional research is needed to better understand the dietary patterns of ROTC cadets, among the participants in this study, greater perceived personal, social, and access barriers were associated with less nutrient-dense eating patterns. Interventions aimed at addressing such barriers may prove beneficial for the improvement of diet quality among ROTC cadets.     

护士工作倦怠与职业紧张关系

目的探讨护士工作倦怠与职业紧张的关系,改善护士身心健康,提高其生命质量。方法随机抽取辽宁省6所综合医院工作时间>6个月的515名女性护士进行问卷调查,应用工作倦怠问卷(MBI)测量护士的工作倦怠,应用工作内容问卷(JCQ)、付出-回报失衡问卷(ERI)测量护士的职业紧张。结果护士工作倦怠的平均得分:情感衰竭(13.45±7.18),分,消极怠慢(7.21±5.27)分,个人成就感(26.04±10.19)分;单因素分析结果显示,年龄≤30岁、单身、护士长、轮班护士及护患关系严重紧张组的工作倦怠得分高于其他组(P<0.05);按照多元回归分析标准化系数的顺序,护士情绪衰竭的职业紧张影响因素为:外在付出(β=0.383)、内在投入(β=0.226)和决策自主(β=-0.115);消极怠慢的影响因素为:外在付出(β=0.253)、内在投入(β=0.159)、上级支持(β=-0.112)和技术自主(β=-0.098);个人成就感的影响因素为:心理要求(β=-0.159)和技术自主(β=0.130)。结论职业紧张对护士工作倦怠有明显影响。     

The Effects of Pre-Game Carbohydrate Intake on Running Performance and Substrate Utilisation during Simulated Gaelic Football Match Play

Background: Previous research has reported that elite Gaelic football players’ carbohydrate (CHO) intakes are sub-optimal, especially, in the lead up to competitive matches. Despite clear decrements in running performance across elite Gaelic football matches, there are no studies that have investigated nutrition interventions on match-related Gaelic football performance. The aim of this study was to determine whether a higher-CHO diet in line with sports nutrition guidelines can improve Gaelic football-related performance compared to lower CHO intakes previously observed in Gaelic footballers. Methods: Twelve Gaelic football players completed a Gaelic football simulation protocol (GFSP) on two occasions after consuming a high-CHO diet (7 g·kg⁻¹) (HCHO) or an energy-matched lower-CHO diet (3.5 g·kg⁻¹) (L-CHO) for 48 h. Movement demands and heart rate were measured using portable global positioning systems devices. Countermovement jump height (CMJ) and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) were measured throughout each trial. Expired respiratory gases were collected throughout the trial using a portable gas analyser. Blood samples were taken at rest, half-time, and post-simulation. Results: There was no significant difference in total distance (p = 0.811; η² = 0.005) or high-speed running distance (HSRD) covered between both trials. However, in the second half of the HCHO trial, HSRD was significantly greater compared to the second half of the LCHO trial (p = 0.015). Sprint distance covered during GFSP was significantly greater in HCHO (8.1 ± 3.5 m·min⁻¹) compared with LCHO (6.4 ± 3.2 m·min⁻¹) (p = 0.011; η² = 0.445). RSA performance (p < 0.0001; η² = 0.735) and lower body power (CMJ) (p < 0.0001; η² = 0.683) were significantly greater during the HCHO trial compared to LCHO. Overall CHO oxidation rates were significantly greater under HCHO conditions compared to LCHO (3.3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.7 ± 0.6 g·min⁻¹) (p < 0.001; η² = 0.798). Blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher during HCHO trial versus LCHO (p = 0.026; η² = 0.375). There were no significant differences in plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and glycerol concentration between trials. In both trials, all blood metabolites were significantly elevated at half-time and post-trial compared to pre-trial. Conclusion: These findings indicate that a higher-CHO diet can reduce declines in physical performance during simulated Gaelic football match play.     

Relationship between Carotenoids,Retinol, and Estradiol Levels in Older Women

Background. In vitro evidence suggests anti-estrogenic properties for retinol and carotenoids, supporting a chemo-preventive role of these phytochemicals in estrogen-dependent cancers. During aging there are significant reductions in retinol and carotenoid concentrations, whereas estradiol levels decline during menopause and progressively increase from the age of 65. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis of a potential relationship between circulating levels of retinol, carotenoids, and estradiol (E2) in a cohort of late post-menopausal women. Methods. We examined 512 women ≥ 65 years from the InCHIANTI study. Retinol, α-caroten, β-caroten, β-criptoxantin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene levels were assayed at enrollment (1998–2000) by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Estradiol and testosterone (T) levels were assessed by Radioimmunometry (RIA) and testosterone-to-estradiol ratio (T/E2), as a proxy of aromatase activity, was also calculated. General linear models adjusted for age (Model 1) and further adjusted for other confounders including Body Mass Index (BMI) BMI, smoking, intake of energy, lipids, and vitamin A; C-Reactive Protein, insulin, total cholesterol, liver function, and testosterone (Model 2) were used to investigate the relationship between retinol, carotenoids, and E2 levels. To address the independent relationship between carotenoids and E2 levels, factors significantly associated with E2 in Model 2 were also included in a fully adjusted Model 3. Results. After adjustment for age, α-carotene (β ± SE = −0.01 ± 0.004, p = 0.02) and β-carotene (β ± SE = −0.07 ± 0.02, p = 0.0007) were significantly and inversely associated with E2 levels. α-Carotene was also significantly and positively associated with T/E2 ratio (β ± SE = 0.07 ± 0.03, p = 0.01). After adjustment for other confounders (Model 2), the inverse relationship between α-carotene (β ± SE = −1.59 ± 0.61, p = 0.01), β-carotene (β ± SE = −0.29 ± 0.08, p = 0.0009), and E2 persisted whereas the relationship between α-carotene and T/E2 ratio was attenuated (β ± SE = 0.22 ± 0.12, p = 0.07). In a fully adjusted model (Model 3), only β-carotene (β ± SE = −0.05 ± 0.02, p = 0.03) was significantly and inversely associated with E2 levels independent of α-carotene. No association was found between retinol, total non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene, and E2 levels. Conclusions: In older women, β-carotene levels are independently and inversely associated with E2.     

Vitamin E Levels in Ethnic Communities in Malaysia and Its Relation to Glucose Tolerance,Insulin Resistance and Advanced Glycation End Products: A Cross-Sectional Study

Malaysian national morbidity surveys on diabetic prevalence have shown ethnical variation among prediabetic and diabetic populations. In our attempt to understand this variation, we studied the α-tocopherol, insulin resistance, β-cell function and receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) levels, as risk factors of type 2 diabetes, among the different ethnicities. In total, 299 subjects of Malay, Chinese, Indian and aboriginal Orang Asli (OA) heritage were recruited from urban and rural areas of Malaysia by stratified random sampling. Serum α-tocopherol concentrations were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and insulin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In subjects with pre-diabetes, OAs had the highest α-tocopherol level, followed by Chinese and Malays (0.8938, 0.8564 and 0.6948 respectively; p < 0.05). In diabetic subjects, Malays had significantly higher RAGE levels compared to Chinese and Indians (5579.31, 3473.40 and 3279.52 pg/mL respectively, p = 0.001). Low α-tocopherol level (OR = 3.021, p < 0.05) and high insulin resistance (OR = 2.423, p < 0.05) were linked strongly to the development of pre-diabetes. Low β-cell function (OR = 5.657, p < 0.001) and high RAGE level (OR = 3.244, p < 0.05) were linked strongly to the development of diabetes from pre-diabetes. These factors might be involved in the development of diabetes, along with genetic and environmental factors.     

大连市高星级酒店员工工作压力现况调查

目的了解高星级酒店员工工作压力现状,以便为采取有效措施降低或消除酒店员工工作压力提供科学依据。方法用中文版工作内容量表（JCQ）,对大连市高星级酒店员工145人进行问卷调查,应用SPSS11．0统计软件建立数据库,采用日本工作压力判定图测量方法得出数据。结果工作内容问卷分析结果表明,高星级酒店男女员工的工作量分别为32．02和32．12;工作自主程度分别为60．48和60．47;上司支持分别为11．40和11．43;同事支持分别为11．317和11．324。男性员工在“工作量-工作自主程度”上的健康风险度为122,女性员工的健康风险度为98。结论大连市高星级酒店的工作压力对男性员工健康影响较大。