The Relationship between Workplace Stressors and Job Strain with Psychological Distress among Employed Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivors

Heng Weay Yong,Hashim Zailina,Jamil O Zubaidah,Moin Saidi

doi:10.4236/jct.2012.325088

Abstract

Evidence showed occupational factors may contribute distress to breast cancer survivors, however, very few studies focused on the occupational factors and job strain among breast cancer survivors. This study examined the relationship between job strain and workplace stressors with psychological distress among employed breast cancer survivors after the completion of their medical treatment. Study subject were outpatients of 2 hospitals and members of 4 breast cancer support groups. They were requested to fill up the Job Content Questionnaires (JCQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Distress Thermometer (DT) were filled up by the selected respondents. On simple logistic regression, psychological job demand and job strain were significantly associated with anxiety, distress on HADS-T and DT at (p < 0.001). While, psychological job demand (p < 0.001), social support (p = 0.047) and job strain (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with depression. Results showed survivors with high job strain has 4.74 time the odds of having anxiety (p < 0.001). Survivors with high psychological job demand have 8.08 time the odds of getting depression (p < 0.001). On the other hand, social support served as a protective factor of depression, (p = 0.041). Survivors with high psychological job demand were 4.4 time the odds of having distress (HADS-T) (p = 0.012). As a conclusion, survivors who experienced high psychological job demand, low social support and high job strain were reported with anxiety, depression or psychological distress.

Highlights

The outcome of job strain is workplace stress which is considered as a health hazard which arises from interactions of workers and the work demands [1]
This study examined the relationship between job strain and workplace stressors with psychological distress among employed breast cancer survivors after the completion of their medical treatment
This study examined the relationship between job strain and workplace stressors with psychological distress level of breast cancer survivors after returning to work

Summary

Introduction

The outcome of job strain is workplace stress which is considered as a health hazard which arises from interactions of workers and the work demands [1]. From the employers’ perception, workplace stress is a personal problem. Some argues that one should be able to cope with it if they are employed as it is voluntary and it comes with the job, not considered as a workplace hazard. More researchers found job strain to be a significant health hazard [2,3]. It is a serious health and safety hazard with devastated effects causing mental illnesses to the workers. It is mainly due to the poor match between work demand with work ability and one does not have a reasonable control over work

Methods

Results

Conclusion