The relationship of lifestyle factors, personal character, and mental health status of employees of a major Japanese electrical manufacturer

Summary  To examine the relationship lifestyle factors, personal character, mental health status, and job strain a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among employees of a leading electrical manufacturing company in Japan. A total of 2,327 workers (Male=1,668, Female=659) responded to the survey. We analyzed the relationships of health practices based on such factors as: Free child (FC) from the Egogram, the Working-life satisfaction, and the General Health Questionnaire-28 through Path-analysis techniques. The following results were obtained: The mental health status was significantly affected by such factors as health practices, Working-life satisfaction, personal character (FC), life satisfaction, and age. Health practices and personal character (FC) showed a direct relationship to the mental health status and an indirect relationship to the Working-life satisfaction and life satisfaction. The variances accounting for mental health status were 41.8% in male workers and 43.8% in female workers. Path-analysis data suggested that mental health status was affected about 40% by lifestyle, personal character, Working-life satisfaction, and life satisfaction. It was suggested that there might be important factors affecting mental health status but which are unknown to us by as much as 60% in the present day. These findings suggested the necessity of further investigation of the relationship among lifestyle factors, mental health status, and job strain among employees of a reputable company in the present day.     

Double jeopardy: workplace hazards and behavioral risks for craftspersons and laborers

PURPOSE: To address three specific questions in a sample of craftspersons and laborers: (1) Do craftspersons and laborers exposed to workplace hazards have higher behavioral risks, such as smoking and high-fat diets, than those with few job risks? (2) Compared to workers with few job risks, do workers exposed to risks on the job have higher intentions to reduce their behavioral risks? (3) Does concern about the level of exposure to risks on the job increase workers' intentions to reduce behavioral risks? DESIGN: A cross-sectional self-administered survey was conducted in participating worksites. SETTING: Twenty-two predominantly manufacturing worksites in Massachusetts. SUBJECTS: Craftspersons and laborers responding to the survey and employed in these 22 worksites (completion rate = 61%, N = 1841). MEASURES: By using standardized items, this survey measured self-reported exposure to workplace hazards, concern about job exposures, smoking status, fat and fiber intake, readiness to quit smoking, plans to reduce fat intake, plans to eat more fruits and vegetables, and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Workers reporting exposure to chemical hazards on the job were significantly more likely to be smokers than were unexposed workers, even when results were controlled for gender. Compared with unexposed workers, smokers exposed to chemical hazards were significantly more likely to be thinking of quitting or taking action to quit, when results were controlled for gender, race, and education. Among workers exposed to occupational chemical hazards, concern about this exposure was significantly associated with intentions to decrease fat intake and increase fruit and vegetable intake, and, among men, intentions to quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts aimed at integrating health promotion and health protection are needed to address simultaneously the job risks and personal risks these workers face.     

Can gender differences in psychosocial factors be explained by socioeconomic status?

AIMS: The aims of this study were to examine (1) if associations between gender and psychosocial factors could be explained by socioeconomic status (SES) and (2) if associations between gender and psychosocial factors are more salient at lower levels of SES. METHODS: Psychosocial factors such as decision latitude and social integration were studied in a cross-sectional study in two steps. In a public health survey, 4,086 randomly selected men and women aged 30-64 participated. Of these, 257 men and women also participated in an in-depth study. SES was measured in terms of education and occupation. Linear regression models were used to test associations between gender, SES, and a broad range of psychosocial factors. RESULTS: Women reported lower scale scores on decision latitude, coping, and self-esteem, as well as more job strain, depression, and vital exhaustion, while men reported more cynicism (all p<0.05). Observed gender differences were still significant after control for effect of education, while after control for occupational status the effect of gender was lost for decision latitude and job strain. Significant interaction factors were found between gender and educational status for psychological demands, decision latitude, social integration, coping, and hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences, found for a broad range of psychosocial factors, could not be explained by SES. However, associations between gender and psychosocial factors were more salient at lower levels of SES. Psychosocial factors, especially decision latitude and social integration, may help explain why women with low SES experience poorer health.     

Application of Karasek's demand/control model a Canadian occupational setting including shift workers during a period of reorganization and downsizing

PURPOSE: To apply Karasek's Job Content Model to an analysis of the relationships between job type and perceived stress and stress behaviors in a large company during a period of reorganization and downsizing. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mail-out, mail-back survey. SETTING: A large Canadian telephone/telecommunications company. SUBJECTS: Stratified random sample (stratified by job category) of 2200 out of 13,000 employees with a response rate of 48.8%. MEASURES: Responses to 25 of Karasek's core questions were utilized to define four job types: low-demand and high control = "relaxed"; high demand and high control = "active"; low demand and low control = "passive", and high demand and low control = "high strain." These job types were compared against self-reported stress levels, perceived general level of health, absenteeism, alcohol use, exercise level, and use of medications and drugs. Similar analyses were performed to assess the influence of shift work. RESULTS: Employees with "passive" or "high strain" job types reported higher levels of stress (trend test p < .0001); poorer health (trend test P = .006); and higher levels of absenteeism (trend test p < .0001). More shift workers reported themselves in poor or fair health (chi-square p = .018) and reported high levels of stress at home (chi-square p = .002) than nonshift workers. The relationships between job type and levels of stress, health and absenteeism, however, held for nonshift workers as well. CONCLUSIONS: Job types with high demand and low control were associated with increased stress, increased absenteeism, and poorer self-concept of health. The demand/control model of Karasek and Theorell was validated in this setting with respect to stress and some stress-associated attitudes and behaviors.     

A follow-up study of job strain and heart disease among males in the NHANES1 population

Several studies have associated heart disease with job strain, defined as low job control and high job demands. We have studied incident heart disease (519 cases) and job strain among 3,575 males in NHANES1 survey who were currently employed at baseline in the early 1970s, and followed through 1987. Scores for job control and job demands were assigned to each subject based on current occupation at baseline. Controlling for conventional risk factors, we found no excess risk for those with the highest strain (lowest control and highest demands, rate ratio 1.08). Those with highest job control did have significantly decreased risk (rate ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.93). In blue-collar workers (58% of subjects) there was a significant inverse trend in risk with increasing job demands. Control for level of physical activity did not change this finding. A combination of high control and demand was protective among blue-collar workers (odds ratio 0.69, 0.48–0.99). Our findings suggest that class-specific analyses are needed in studying job stress, and that “active” blue–collar workers with high control and high demand are protected against heart disease. The “job demand” variable may measure whether work is challenging rather than fast-paced. Our findings are limited by the use of assigned job scores based on job title. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:256–259, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of stable and changing demand-control histories on worker health

OBJECTIVES: The present study examined effects of stability and change in exposure to job demands and job control (demand-control histories) in relation to the strain hypothesis of Karasek's demand-control model. METHODS: The hypotheses [(i) high (low) levels of ill health were expected for workers exposed to stable 1 levels of high (low) job demands and low (high) job control; (ii) decreases (increases) in strain-related health outcomes were expected for workers with positive (negative) changes in job demands and job control; (iii) workers reporting major changes in job demands or control were expected to report more "objective" job changes] were tested with a group-by-time analysis of variance using data from a four-phase Dutch cohort study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health. Associations between demand-control histories and job changes were tested in a log-linear analysis. RESULTS: The hypotheses for the stable exposure groups were supported for depression and job satisfaction. Those for positive and negative changes were partially supported. There was no relation, however, between the level of stability or changes in exposure to demands and control for the registered duration and frequency of sickness absence. Finally, the results showed that workers reporting major changes in demand-control histories over time had more job changes, and those reporting job changes towards high strain jobs evaluated the changes as more distressful. CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal study supports the strain hypothesis of the demand-control model and shows a significant association between major changes in demand-control histories and job changes.     

某油田工人工作满意感及其影响因素分析

目的 调查某油田工人工作满意感的状况及其影响因素.方法 采用职业紧张测量工具对某油田作业工人进行问卷调查.结果 ＜30岁组油田工人的工作满意感、工作组织满意感、工作本身满意感评分(分别为45.69±10.98、22.63±6.16、23.07±5.39)低于≥30岁组(分别为49.34±10.12、24.60±5.40、24.74±5.36),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).不同工龄组间工作满意感的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),工龄为5～10年的工人工作满意感得分最低,分别与工龄＜5年和＞10年两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).油田工人的性别、受教育程度及婚姻状况对工作满意感无明显影响.工作满意感与心理卫生、工作心理控制源、应对策略、情绪平衡、社会支持的相关有统计学意义(P＜0.01).以工作满意感为应变量,以个体统计学特征资料、职业应激因素、个性特征和应付策略变量为自变量进行逐步回归分析.结果 显示,工作心理控制源、情绪平衡、社会支持、心理卫生、应对策略5个变量进入了回归方程.结论 油田工人的工作满意感水平受年龄、工龄、社会支持等多种因素影响.     

JCQ scale reliability and responsiveness to changes in manufacturing process.

BACKGROUND: The job content questionnaire (JCQ) was administered to automobile manufacturing workers in two interviews, 5 years apart. Between the two interviews, the company introduced substantial changes in production technology in some production areas. The aims were: (1) to describe the impact of these changes on self-reported psychosocial exposures, and (2) to examine test-retest reliability of the JCQ scales, taking into account changes in job assignment and, for a subset of workers, physical ergonomic exposures as assessed through field observations. METHODS: The study population included 790 subjects at the first and 519 at the second interview, of whom 387 were present in both. Differences in demand and control scores between interviews were analyzed by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Test-retest reliability of these scales was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Spearman's rho coefficient. RESULTS: The introduction of more automated technology produced an overall increase in job control but did not decrease psychological demand. The reliability of the control scale was low overall but increased to an acceptable level among workers who had not changed job. The demand scale had high reliability only among workers whose physical ergonomic exposures were similar on both survey occasions. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that 5-year test-retest reliability of self-reported psychosocial exposures is adequate among workers whose job assignment and ergonomic exposures have remained stable over time.     

High job strain and ambulatory blood pressure in middle-aged men and women from the Belgian job stress study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether job strain is associated with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements within a subsample of the Belgian Job Stress Project (BELSTRESS) population. METHODS: A group of 89 middle-aged male and female workers perceiving high job strain and an equally large group of workers perceiving no high job strain wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours on a regular working day. RESULTS: Mean ambulatory blood pressure at work, at home, and while asleep was significantly higher in workers with job strain as compared with others. The associations between job strain and ambulatory blood pressure were independent from the covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Within this study, high job strain was an important independent risk factor for higher ambulatory blood pressure at work, at home, and during sleep in a group of men and women.     

新疆乌鲁木齐市脑力工作者职业倦怠状况调查

目的了解目前脑力工作者的职业倦怠情况,为脑力工作者职业倦怠的防治工作提供依据。方法通过分层整群随机抽样选取新疆乌鲁木齐市脑力作业人员1 200名,采用职业倦怠量表进行问卷调查,然后对其中1 100份有效问卷进行分析。结果 1脑力工作者的情感耗竭、人格解体和个人成就感降低3个维度的总检出率分别为17.45%、45.91%和60.91%,轻度、中度和重度倦怠的检出率分别为33.27%、37.91%和8.64%,其中科研人员职业倦怠的检出率、中度和重度职业倦怠的检出率均高于管理人员和专业技术人员;2科研人员在人格解体、个人成就感降低维度上的得分均高于管理人员和专业技术人员;3不同民族在职业倦怠各维度和职业倦怠总得分上均无差异,女性、未婚、低收入及低教育水平者较容易发生职业倦怠;4脑力工作者出现职业倦怠更可能是在工作早期。结论脑力工作者职业倦怠状况较严重,并且以科研人员的职业倦怠情况最为严重,因此应该受到重视。此外,脑力劳动者的职业倦怠情况因人口学特征不同而异。     

Burnout syndrome in health workers and relationship with personal and environmental factors

OBJECTIVES: High rates of professional burnout syndrome have been found among health service professionals. Our objective was to study the prevalence of burnout syndrome in hospital health workers and to determine its relationship with personal and environmental factors. METHODS: A total of 2290 health workers from five hospitals in the province of Girona (Spain) were invited to participate. Interviewees were given a specifically designed questionnaire, a questionnaire on organizational climate, and the Spanish version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which includes three scales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. RESULTS: Responses were received from 1095 health workers (a response rate of 47.8%). A high level of emotional exhaustion was found in 41.6% of staff members, especially among doctors and nurses; a high level of depersonalization was found in 23%, mainly among doctors, and reduced personal accomplishment was found in 27.9%, mainly among technicians and doctors. Multiple logistic regression revealed that a high level of emotional exhaustion was associated with frequent consumption of tranquilizers or antidepressants, whereas optimism and job satisfaction showed an inverse association. The variables that were inversely associated with a high level of depersonalization were the number of years in the profession, optimism, evaluation of work as being useful and the perception of being valued by others. Reduced personal accomplishment was also inversely associated with optimism, satisfaction with the usefulness of one's work, and satisfaction with teamwork. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the results obtained, to reduce professional burnout in hospitals, optimism and a sense of self-worth among individuals should be encouraged and the organizational environment should be improved.     

Hospice social workers’ perception of being valued by the interdisciplinary team and the association with job satisfaction

ABSTRACT

Being valued and respected by colleagues is an important contributor to job satisfaction in hospice and other health care settings. The purpose of this study was to examine how the perception of feeling valued by different members of the interdisciplinary team and interdependence of team members are related to hospice social workers’ job satisfaction. The study aims were to examine: (1) the degree to which hospice social workers feel valued by other members of the interdisciplinary team; and 2) whether this is associated with job satisfaction. A nonprobability sample of 203 hospice social workers completed an online survey assessing job satisfaction, perception of feeling valued by each of the professionals on the interdisciplinary hospice team, interdependence of team members, and professional and personal characteristics. The final regression model for intrinsic job satisfaction included feeling valued by doctors and by other social workers, and interdisciplinary interdependence. The final model for extrinsic job satisfaction did not include any of the perception of feeling valued by others on the interdisciplinary team, although interdependence and the number of social workers at the hospice were significant in this model. Reasons for the difference in these models and the practice and policy implications are discussed.     

Job stress and other working conditions: Relationships with smoking behaviors in a representative sample of working Australians

OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationships between current smoking status and psychosocial working conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based telephone survey was conducted (66% response rate, N = 1,101). Job stress was measured using the demand/control, effort/reward imbalance (ERI), and job pressure models. Multiple regression modelling was conducted for smoking status (current versus non-smokers, and a more restricted analysis of current versus former-smokers) and daily smoking intensity outcomes in relation to job stress measures, working hours, shift work, and other independent variables. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, martial status, and hostility, high job strain was positively associated with current smoking in men only. Employment in active jobs was associated with decreased odds of smoking among women only. High strain jobs were associated with decreased odds of current smoking compared to former smoking in women. In men, extreme and moderate job pressure were related to current smoking compared to current non-smoking, and moderate job pressure was associated with current smoking compared with former smokers. Other working conditions associated with smoking were excessive working hours in men and physical demand in women. Daily smoking intensity in current smokers was associated with high psychological demand and with ERI in women. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that job stress is related to smoking status at the population level, with different patterns in men and women.     

Job strain and arterial blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and smoking as risk factors for coronary heart disease in Japan

Objective: To determine the effects of the job demands-control model on arterial blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, and smoking in male daytime and rotating-shift workers in Japan. Methods: The survey was conducted for all employees of an electrical factory in Japan using a mailed questionnaire concerning three job stressors, i.e., job overload, work-pace control, and work-site social support. A blood sample was taken at the same time. Data on 1 703 male daytime workers and 1 173 male rotating-shift workers were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression or analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were employed to determine the effects of the job stressors on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, and smoking with control for other covariates. Results: Among daytime workers, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were highest in the “high-strain” (i.e., higher job overload + lower work-pace control) group; ANCOVA indicated that a two-way interaction between job overload and work-pace control was significant (P < 0.01). This tendency was not observed among rotating-shift workers. The number of cigarettes smoked per day was greater in groups with lower work-pace control and lower work-site social support among daytime workers (two-way interaction between these two job stressors, P < 0.05); it was greater in groups with lower work-site social support among rotating-shift workers (main effect of work-site social support, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study suggest that job strain as defined in the job demands-control model is associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures in male daytime workers in Japan. Smoking might be affected by lower work-site social support. Received: 10 June 1997 / Accepted: 20 March 1998     

Job strain and neck-shoulder symptoms: a prevalence study of women and men white-collar workers

BACKGROUND: Neck-shoulder symptoms are frequent among workers. Psychosocial factors at work have been associated with neck-shoulder symptoms, but few studies have examined job strain, the combined effect of high psychological demands (PD) and low decision latitude (DL). AIMS: To examine the association between psychosocial factors at work and the prevalence of self-reported neck-shoulder symptoms among white-collar workers. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 1543 white-collar workers, PD and DL at work were measured with Karasek's questionnaire. Prevalent cases were workers for whom neck-shoulder symptoms were present for >or=3 days during the previous 7 days and for whom pain intensity was greater than half the visual analogue scale. Gender and social support at work were evaluated as potential effect modifiers. RESULTS: Workers exposed to high job strain had a higher prevalence of neck-shoulder symptoms [adjusted prevalence ratio (PR): 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-2.37]. No modifying effect of gender was observed in this association. The effect of job strain was stronger in workers with low social support (adjusted PR: 1.84, 95% CI: 0.92-3.68). These associations tended to be stronger and/or more precise when using alternative exposures and case definition. Namely, a stronger job strain effect was observed when a tertile cut-off was used to classify exposure (adjusted PR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.15-5.32). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that primary prevention of neck-shoulder symptoms among white-collar workers should consider the exposure to job strain, especially when workers are exposed to low social support at work.     

Monitoring risks in association with exposure levels among wastewater treatment plant workers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between exposure to hydrogen sulfide and endotoxin during specific job tasks and health symptoms among wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) workers. METHODS: The exposure levels for specific tasks were measured by personal monitoring. The health symptoms of WWTP workers were compared with those of water treatment plant workers through a questionnaire survey. RESULTS: Exposure levels for all monitored tasks were less than 1 ppm for hydrogen sulfide and 91 EU/m (endotoxin units/m) for endotoxin. Statistically higher odds ratios of respiratory, ocular and skin irritation, neurology, and gastrointestine symptoms were shown among WWTP workers compared with water treatment plant workers. Tasks related to sludge handling and plant inspection showed statistically significant associations with memory/concentration difficulties, throat irritation, and stomach pain. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that exposure control programs for specific job tasks and work locations are needed.     

Socioeconomic status, working conditions and self-rated health in Switzerland: explaining the gradient in men and women

Objectives:  Epidemiological research has confirmed the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and health, but only a few studies considered working conditions in this relationship. This study examined the contribution of physical and psychosocial working conditions in explaining the social gradient in self-rated health. Methods:  A representative sample of 10 101 employees, 5003 women and 5098 men, from the Swiss national health survey 2002 was used. SES was assessed according to the EGP-scheme. Working conditions included exposure to physical disturbances, physical strain, job insecurity, monotonous work and handling simultaneous tasks. For data analysis logistic regression analyses were performed. Results:  Data show a social gradient for self-rated health (SRH) as well as for physical and psychosocial working conditions. Logistic regression analysis controlling for age, gender and level of employment showed both physical and psychosocial working conditions to be significant predictors of SRH. Physical and psychosocial working conditions such as physical disturbances from work environment, physical strains in doing the job, monotony at work, job insecurity etc. could explain most of the social gradient of SRH in men and women. Conclusion:  The study confirmed the relevance of modifiable physical and psychosocial working conditions for reducing social inequality in health. Gender differences need to be considered in epidemiological and intervention studies. Submitted: 24 August 2007; revised: 06 May 2008, 11 August 2008; accepted: 19 October 2008     

地铁站勤务人员个体噪声暴露的监测与分析

目的 采用个体噪声暴露测量方法,了解地铁站勤务人员噪声暴露的水平和特点,为地铁站勤务人员的噪声职业危害控制提供依据。方法 以城市地铁某线路6个站点的4类岗位勤务人员为对象,用记录式噪声个体计量仪对地铁运行时间段内各岗位勤务人员进行个体噪声暴露测量。结果 城市地铁站的现场复杂,噪声源数量多、不稳定。在受检的48名勤务人员中,车站机房岗位的工作班内加权平均等效A声级（LAeq）水平最高为（81．8±2．5）dB（A）,车站控制岗位班内加权平均LAeq最低为（68．7±1．8）dB（A）;车站厅巡岗位班内加权平均LAeq水平极差最大为8．1dB（A）,车站控制岗位班内加权平均IAeq水平极差最小为4．0dB（A）。结论 地铁站勤务人员个体噪声暴露极不均一,用个体噪声暴露测量方法能较灵敏、完整地反映地铁站勤务人员的复杂噪声暴露状况。     

Job strain and self-reported health among working women and men: an analysis of the 1994/5 Canadian National Population Health Survey

This paper explores the associations, for working women and men, of high strain jobs with self-rated health in the 1994/95 Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). NPHS data were obtained on men (n = 4230) and women (n = 4043), aged 18-64 who answered an abbreviated version oF the job content questionnaire (JCQ). Using the upper and lower tertiles of psychological demands and decision latitude as cut points we classified workers into high strain and other jobs. Self-rated health was the outcome. We used polytomous logistic regression analyses and controlled for potential personal and home confounders; two risk parameters were estimated: for the odds of reporting poor/fair and good health both vs. very good/excellent health. High strain work was reported by 11% of women and 9% of men. After adjusting for potential confounders, high job strain was consistently associated with worse self-rated health in both models for each gender.