A preliminary study on establishment of the Core Occupational Stress Scale (COSS) norms for manufacturing and medical workers in China

Abstract

Objective: To establish the Core Occupational Stress Scale (COSS) norm values for manufacturing and medical workers. Methods: A total of 10 316 manufacturing workers of 20 companies from 7 provincial capital cities and 5 031 medical workers of 19 hospitals from 4 provincial capital cities were investigated using a stratified sampling method. Questionnaire information including occupational stress was collected. Norms of mean, percentile and T scores were calculated for COSS total and sub-dimension scores by different demographic characteristics. Based on the normal distribution, cut points of x¯+0.5s, x¯+s, x¯+1.5s of COSS total scores were calculated to classify the degree of occupational stress. Results: The COSS total scores were (45.48±8.16) and (45.71±8.46). The 50th percentiles were both 46, and T score ranges were (15-92) and (16-91), respectively, for manufacturing and medical workers. When the total score was<50, 50-53, 54-57, and >57 for manufacturing worker, or<50, 50-54, 55-58, and >58 for medical workers, occupational stress would be classified into none, mild, moderate, and severe levels. Conclusion: Compatible with the national condition of China, as well as the principles of psychological measurement, these norm values for manufacturing and medical workers could provide theoretical support and practical guideline on occupational mental health promotion.