| Abstract: | Health problems associated with work with video display units (VDUs) are a growing public health concern. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between the psychosocial work environment and such complaints. We followed 47 white-collar employees with and without VDU-associated skin complaints during one regular work day and a day of leisure in otherwise identical electromagnetic environments. VDU workers with skin symptoms reported higher control over work processes but nevertheless experienced more extreme job stress. We postulate that employees suffering from cognitive failure during VDU work develop ‘techno-stress’. In the future, considerably more attention needs to be directed to the occupational health consequences of new technologies. |
