Abstract
PurposeThe knowledge about the association between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) demands at work and self-rated health (SRH) is insufficient. The aim of this study was to examine the association between repeated exposure to high ICT demands at work, and risk of suboptimal SRH, and to determine modifications by sex or socioeconomic position (SEP).MethodsA prospective design was used, including repeated measurement of ICT demands at work, measured 2 years apart. SRH was measured at baseline and at follow-up after 4 years. The data were derived from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH), including 4468 gainfully employees (1941 men, 2527 women) with good SRH at baseline.ResultsIn the total study sample, repeated exposure to high ICT demands at work was associated with suboptimal SRH at follow-up (OR 1.34 [CI 1.06–1.70]), adjusted for age, sex, SEP, health behaviours, BMI, job strain and social support. An interaction between ICT demands and sex was observed (p = 0.010). The risk was only present in men (OR 1.53 [CI 1.09–2.16]), and not in women (OR 1.17 [CI 0.85–1.62]). The risk of suboptimal SRH after consistently high ICT demands at work was most elevated in participants with high SEP (OR 1.68 [CI 1.02–2.79]), adjusted for age, sex, health behaviours, BMI and job strain. However, no significant interaction between ICT demands and SEP regarding SRH was observed.ConclusionRepeated exposure to high ICT demands at work was associated with suboptimal SRH at follow-up, and the association was modified by sex.
Highlights
Modern working life is characterised by digitalisation, including use of information and communication technology (ICT) (Swedish Work Environment Authority 2015a).University Hospital, Linköping, SwedenThe concept of ICT is a modification of information technology (IT), and refers to technologies that provide access to information and communication by communicative technical devices, such as the Internet, tablets, and smartphones (Christensen 2017)
Concerning exposure to high ICT demands at work, 43.9% of the participants were unexposed to high ICT demands at work at both T1 and T2; 26.1% were exposed to high ICT demands at work demands at either T1 or T2; and 30.0% were exposed to high ICT demands at work at both T1 and T2
The results showed that repeated exposure to high ICT demands at work was associated with increased risk of developing suboptimal self-rated health (SRH) at follow-up
Summary
Modern working life is characterised by digitalisation, including use of information and communication technology (ICT) (Swedish Work Environment Authority 2015a).University Hospital, Linköping, SwedenThe concept of ICT is a modification of information technology (IT), and refers to technologies that provide access to information and communication by communicative technical devices, such as the Internet, tablets, and smartphones (Christensen 2017). International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2019) 92:717–728 environment (Barber and Santuzzi 2015; Day et al 2012; Stadin et al 2016; Stenfors et al 2013). ICT-related stress has been associated with poor healthrelated outcomes such as suboptimal (i.e., below the optimal standard) general self-rated health (SRH), cognitive complaints involving problems with concentration, memory, decision-making and ability to think clearly, sleep disturbances, burnout and sickness absenteeism (Barber and Jenkins 2014; Barber and Santuzzi 2015; Hennington et al 2011; Stadin et al 2016; Stenfors et al 2013). The knowledge about ICT-related stress and its association with different health-related outcomes over time is still very limited, and additional studies have been called for (Swedish Work Environment Authority 2015a)
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