Abstract
BackgroundInformation technology (IT) and the IT workforce are rapidly expanding with potential occupational health implications. But to date, IT worker health is under-studied and large-scale studies are lacking.AimsTo investigate health, lifestyle and occupational risk factors of IT workers.MethodsWe evaluated self-reported health, lifestyle and occupational risk factors for IT workers in the UK Biobank database. Using logistic regression, we investigated differences between IT workers and all other employed participants. Regression models were repeated for IT worker subgroups (managers, professionals, technicians) and their respective counterparts within the same Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) major group (functional managers, science and technology professionals, science and technology associate professionals).ResultsOverall, 10 931 (4%) employed participants were IT workers. Compared to all other employed participants, IT workers reported similar overall health, but lower lifestyle risk factors for smoking and obesity. Sedentary work was a substantially higher occupational exposure risk for IT workers compared to all other employed participants (odds ratio [OR] = 5.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.91–5.39) and their specific SOC group counterparts (managers: OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.68–1.99, professionals: OR = 7.18, 95% CI: 6.58–7.82, technicians: OR = 4.48, 95% CI: 3.87–5.17). IT workers were also more likely to engage in computer screen-time outside work than all other employed participants (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.35–1.51).ConclusionsImproved understanding of health, lifestyle and occupational risk factors from this, the largest to date study of IT worker health, can help inform workplace interventions to mitigate risk, improve health and increase the work participation of this increasingly important and rapidly growing occupational group.
Highlights
Advancement of information technology (IT) has seen a rapid growth in the IT workforce [1], potentially with substantial occupational health (OH) implications
The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) uses a broad definition: any skilled worker who performs any function related to IT [3]
IT professionals (Model 2: OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.37–1.69) and technicians (Model 2: OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.42–2.15) were more likely to engage in >2 h/day of computer screen-time outside work than their respective science and technology professionals (STPs) and science and technology associate professionals (STAPs) counterparts, no substantive differences were seen for IT managers (Figure 2)
Summary
Advancement of information technology (IT) has seen a rapid growth in the IT workforce [1], potentially with substantial occupational health (OH) implications. Given their pivotal role in economic and business development globally [2,3] and their increasing size, reliable data and research on this occupational group are essential, to help plan services, meet IT worker needs and establish areas of unmet OH need. Robust data and health and well-being research on this occupational group are lacking [2,3]. The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) uses a broad definition: any skilled worker who performs any function related to IT [3]. IT worker health is under-studied and large-scale studies are lacking
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