Work-related stress factors and health management among Korean workers with diabetes

Abstract

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to test a model in which emotional and work-related conflicts associated with diabetes contribute to health management efficacy and behaviour.Design/methodology/approach– The authors investigated 193 Korean employees with diabetes in a two-phased longitudinal study (101 participants were retained at Time 2).Findings– After controlling for severity of diabetes (HbA1C), structural equation modelling revealed that higher work-health conflict (a proxy for demand) and higher inauthenticity at work (a proxy for control) were associated with more diabetes-related distress at Time 1. Results also revealed support for longitudinal mediation, such that more diabetes-related distress at Time 1 predicted lower health management efficacy one year later (at Time 2), which was associated with less health management behaviour at Time 2.Research limitations/implications– Results support the importance of applying the biopsychosocial perspective to diabetes management through the use of subjective measures of demand and control.Practical implications– Suggestions are provided for occupational programmes for workers with disease, including on-site education, health-management training, and flexible job redesign such as telecommuting.Originality/value– Research in workers with diabetes for stress relief and disease management.