Job stress and healthy behavior among male Japanese office workers

Abstract

Lifestyle modification in healthy workers is challenging. We aim to investigate associations between job stress and healthy behavior change among workers. This cross-sectional study investigated 1,183 Japanese male white-collar workers in 2008 during health checkups for Metabolic Syndrome. Healthy behavior included either a calorie-focused diet or regular exercise. Job stress was measured by Job Content Questionnaire based on the job demands-control model and tension-anxiety and anger-hostility scales on the Profile of Mood States. Healthy behaviors were confirmed in 54% of study subjects. Multivariate logistic model showed that healthy behaviors were positively associated with a higher degree of work control and negatively associated with greater work demand. Work control and support were negatively correlated with tension-anxiety and depression, whereas work demand and strain were positively correlated with these two emotion domains (all P's < 0.0001). It is suggested that addressing job stress is of clinical importance to promote healthy behaviors.