New directions for psychosocial work environment research

Abstract

My interest in psychosocial work environment research started in the early 1970s when very few theories regarding possible effects of psychosocial factors on health were available. It was shown that there were differences in longevity and incidence of cardiovascular disease between different occupations but apart from toxicological and physical conditions there was little possibility to identify reasons why they would differ. The discussion on social class had already started since certain authors [1,2] had pointed out in their writings that low social class was associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease in working age. This was in contrast to common wisdom at the time which took the opposite view: that myocardial infarction is a disease typical of managers. Kahn and others [3] had introduced their ‘‘work environment fit’’ theory and a general theory regarding the effects of critical life events on health was popular [4]. Accordingly theories were either focusing on the social macro theory (occupation, social class) or on individual psychological mechanisms as well as their interaction. There was a need for theories linking the psychosocial work conditions per se to stress and disease. The demand control theory, which is a synthesis of the psychophysiological stress theory and the sociological alienation theory, was introduced by Karasek in his doctoral thesis in 1976 [5] and published more widely in 1979 [6]. This model represented a reaction against individualization of job stress and was also an effort to fill the need for working condition theories. The theory was developed in relation to physiological theories and tested in relation to heart disease risk in a series of studies