The Role of Demographic and Psychosocial Factors in Predicting SBS Symptoms in Workplaces

Abstract

It has been suggested that several demographic, work-related and psychosocial factors might be at least as important as features of the working environment in self-reported Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms in employees. This is supported by studies that find the frequency of symptoms reported by people working in buildings designated as ‘sick’ does not always differ from those working in ‘healthy’ buildings. This chapter presents the evidence for factors unrelated to the objective working environment as valid predictors of self-reported SBS symptoms. The role played by sex and age in symptom reporting is considered, together with several psychosocial variables and job-related factors such as stress, mood, job satisfaction, perceived control and social support. It is argued that explanations for SBS symptoms that only consider objective features of the working environment and clinical factors fail to recognise the important contribution of other potential predictors. Priorities for future research that encompass psychosocial and work-related variables are considered.