Occupational Titles Research Articles

Contemporary Chinese vocational interest scale in the digital age: development and validation

Holland’s Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional (RIASEC) model has been widely used for career counseling, vocational assessment, and educational choice. However, vocational interest types can be affected by culture, and the fourth industrial revolution has led to the emergence of many new occupations, rendering many occupational titles and work tasks in Holland’s RIASEC model outdated. The present study proposed nine interest types in contemporary China: Artistic (A), Natural (N), Enterprising (E), Conventional (C), Technological (T), Investigative (I), Powerful (P), Social (S), and Operational (O), and developed a vocational interest scale with nine subscales. We generated items by drawing from a literature review, occupational categories, and expert reviews, used exploratory factor analysis (EFA, N = 628, Mage = 12.75 years; 47% girls) to reduce the number of items, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA, N = 627, Mage = 12.76 years; 48% girls) to validate the factor structure. This study clarified vocational interest types in contemporary China, developed and validated a vocational interest scale for the digital age, and provided a measurement tool for educational choice and career counseling.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2023 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States.

To inform the pathology and laboratory field of the most recent national wage data. Historically, the results of this biennial survey have served as a basis for additional research on laboratory professional recruitment, retention, education, marketing, certification, and advocacy. The 2023 Wage Survey was conducted in collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology's (ASCP's) Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy in Washington, DC, and ASCP Board of Certification in Chicago, Illinois. Compared to 2021, results show that more occupations at the staff level had an increased average hourly wage (pathologists' assistant, molecular biology technologist, phlebotomist, cytogenetic technologist, and medical laboratory technician [MLT]), after adjusting for inflation. Wages by time in current occupational title are significantly higher in 2023 than in 2021. Histotechnicians, histotechnologists, and MLTs show consistent increases in pay rates for a longer length of time in the laboratory. Over half (52.4%) of the respondents feel the pandemic continues to influence their salary and/or well-being. Survey results call for continued efforts in promoting visibility of the profession and greater representation through advocacy. While burnout rates are lower compared to 2021, staffing challenges remain a relevant concern. Efforts to support the workforce have multiplied since the pandemic and have been the forefront focus of the laboratory community. However, continued support and advocacy are needed to increase the promotion and value of laboratory careers for laboratory professionals and patients alike.

Validity of an expert-based job exposure matrix of hand-wrist physical exposures and their prospective associations with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Epidemiological studies of occupational risk factors for rare disorders require large study populations with adequate exposure estimates. Job exposure matrices (JEMs) linked to national information on standardized job titles may enable such large studies. We aimed to establish and validate a JEM for occupational hand-wrist exposures that could be linked to Danish national register data on job titles and hand-wrist disorders. We developed a JEM for hand-wrist repetition, force, vibration, and computer work in 96 job groups covering 91% of the 2227 occupational titles in the Danish version of the International Standard Classification of Occupation-88, and examined inter-rater reliability of five expert ratings. Poisson regression models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios for the association of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with the level of repetitive movements, force, vibration, and hours of computer work described by the JEM, adjusted for relevant confounders. The JEM based on expert ratings had fair to good interrater reliability. The incidence of CTS increased with increasing levels of force, hand-wrist repetition, and vibration, Exposure-response patterns for repetition and vibration became less consistent after adjustment for force. The interaction between repetition and force was complex and did not support an overall positive interaction. Computer work was negatively associated with incident CTS. The JEM was able to identify known risk factors for CTS consistent with current evidence, and provided further associations on exposure-response patterns, mutual exposure adjustment, and interaction effects between repetition and force. The reliability of expert assessments of hand-wrist physical exposures was fair to good.

Cognitive Polygenic Index is Associated with Occupational Complexity over and above Brain Morphometry.

Although the impact of occupation on cognitive skills has been extensively studied, there is limited research examining if genetically predicted cognitive score may influence occupation. We examined the association between Cognitive Polygenic Index (PGI) and occupation, including the role of brain measures. Participants were recruited for the Reference Ability Neural Network and the Cognitive Reserve studies. Occupational complexity ratings for Data, People, or Things came from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. A previously-created Cognitive PGI and linear regression models were used for the analyses. Age, sex, education, and the first 20 genetic Principal Components (PCs) of the sample were covariates. Total cortical thickness and total gray matter volume were further covariates. We included 168 white-ethnicity participants, 20-80 years old. After initial adjustment, higher Cognitive PGI was associated with higher Data complexity (B=-0.526, SE = 0.227, Beta= -0.526 p = 0.022, R2 = 0.259) (lower score implies higher complexity). Associations for People or Things were not significant. After adding brain measures, association for Data remained significant (B=-0.496, SE: 0.245, Beta= -0.422, p = 0.045, R2 = 0.254). Similarly, for a further, fully-adjusted analysis including all the three occupational complexity measures (B=-0.568, SE = 0.237, Beta= -0.483, p = 0.018, R2 = 0.327). Cognitive genes were associated with occupational complexity over and above brain morphometry. Working with Data occupational complexity probably acquires higher cognitive status, which can be significantly genetically predetermined.

Personality Traits Systematically Explain the Semantic Arrangement of Occupational Preferences

Abstract: Understanding occupational preferences through Big Five personality traits offers a crucial insight into the socio-psychological profiles of working individuals, extending beyond mere occupational behaviors. Previous research, however, has not conclusively shown that the broad, situation-general Big Five traits can systematically account for occupational preferences as outlined by the existing RIASEC model. The RIASEC framework’s reliance on theory-driven, preselected occupational scenarios may hinder this explanation. In this study, we initially employed data-driven, exploratory methods to identify and validate occupational preference factors from thousands of participants’ responses to a wide array of occupational titles. Subsequently, we explored the connections between the Big Five traits and these newly identified preference factors. Our analysis revealed a coherent and systematic relationship between data-driven occupational preferences and the Big Five traits, formulating the Hexagonal Openness–Extraversion–Agreeableness model of occupational personality traits. This model facilitates a broader understanding of individuals’ work-related personalities from a comprehensive social-psychological viewpoint.

A Study of Lu Xun's "Blessing" Appellatives and the Implications for Chinese Language Teaching

Lu Xun, as the founder of modern Chinese literature, is known for his profound and sharp language style. Although there are different views on whether and how to teach Lu Xun's works in Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) teaching circles, the fact that Lu Xun's works are most frequently included in Chinese language textbooks is enough to emphasize his central position. From the perspective of sociolinguistics, this paper takes the epithets in Lu Xun's Blessing as the object of study, and employs exhaustive statistics and other research methods to systematically analyze the epithets in Blessing. It is found that Blessing contains 54 predicates, which are categorized into two major categories of locution and expressive function and seven subcategories of occupational title and honorific title on the basis of Li Mingjie's classification of predicates. From the study of the predicates in Blessing, we can see that they are characterized by the wide distribution and different colors of predicative elements, and the phenomenon of heteronymity and homonymity, and so on. Finally, from the perspective of the "Three Teachings" (teachers, teaching materials, and teaching methods), the study provides insights for Chinese language teaching and promotes Chinese language learners to better understand the development of Chinese society through the study of Lu Xun's epithets.

On the relationship between complexity of primary occupation and L2 varietal behavior in adult migrants in Austria

Abstract This article explores for the first time the relationship between occupational complexity (operationalized using the complexity measures indicated in the Dictionary of occupational titles) and adult migrants’ second language (L2) sociolinguistic repertoires in the Austro-Bavarian naturalistic context. We analyze the data of 36 adult migrant L2 German speakers who participated in a virtual reality experiment involving interactions with a dialect-speaking and standard German-speaking interlocutor, the goal being to capture participants’ interpersonal varietal behavior, that is, their addressee-relational, differential use of standard German, Austro-Bavarian dialect, and mixture varieties. Bayesian multinomial mixed-effects models reveal that participants with occupations requiring more handling and physical precision work are predicted to employ dialect varieties more often, but exclusively in interaction with the standard German-speaking interlocutor. A person-centered visual-quantitative analysis additionally facilitates insights concerning which migrants deviate most notably from group-level patterns, and how these deviations may relate to the complexity of their primary occupation. More generally, this study paves new ground with respect to how we can operationally define and capture the complexity of occupational status, and moreover sets out a new direction for research questions investigating how career-related differences impact on (L2) language variation and use.

Counting Crofters: Digitised Census Enumerators Books as a New Source for the Later Nineteenth Century

This paper explores some of the ways in which access to the census enumerators books for later nineteenth century censuses, now digitised by the ‘Integrated Census Microdata’ project, can throw new light on a range of socio-demographic developments in the ‘Crofting Counties’ between the early 1850s and the early 1880s. Collating and mapping occupational titles by parish reveals major changes in the titles recorded for those farming small land parcels and in the spatial distributions and age profiles or those heading such households. The numbers of household heads reported as ‘Crofter’ markedly increased between 1851 and 1881 (including outside the ‘Crofting Counties’), as use of terms like ‘Tenant’ and ‘Lotter’ declined. ‘Cottar’, even in 1851 used in very small numbers in most places, was reported in 1881 in very limited areas, even where the estates still used it extensively. The number of households headed by ‘Fishermen’ increased greatly in some areas, notably in Lewis. At the same time, the numbers of men becoming heads of small agriculturalist households at younger ages fell markedly, while rising numbers headed households as ‘Fishermen’. Comparative analysis of four case study areas suggests that, when fishing and other incomes fell markedly in the early 1880s, inter-generational differences in access to headship of a croft may have been a significant stimulus to localised outbreaks of disturbance pressing for land reform.

Occupational prestige and occupational social value in the United Kingdom: New indices for the modern British economy

Sociological research has long been interested in occupational evaluation. However, occupational research remains hampered by conceptual ambiguity and methodological problems. To address these issues, we present new indices of occupational prestige and occupational social value for 576 occupation titles aligned with the ILO International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08). A shorter core list with 130 occupation titles – one per ISCO-08 minor group – is also provided. Based on comprehensive and recent evidence from 2429 respondents, we carve out the evaluative landscape of occupations in the United Kingdom. We show how occupational prestige and occupational social value are correlated but distinct. A clear hierarchy appears, with highly educated occupations at the top and stigmatised or illicit occupations at the bottom. The study thus contributes to social stratification research and encourages reuse of the scores in future occupational research.

Diagnoses of common mental disorders among social workers in Sweden: A register-based cohort study

BackgroundLittle is known about common mental disorders (CMD) diagnoses among social workers, i.e., depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders. This study aims to examine the risk of CMD among social workers in comparison to other workers and to further investigate differences between men and women and specific occupational titles. MethodsThis register-based cohort study consists of 3,034,304 persons, of which 26,610 were social workers (0.9 % of all workers), aged 30–64 years, living in Sweden in 2015. The risk of diagnosed CMDs was followed up until 2020. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for sex, birth country, education, and birth year. ResultsThe participants were followed up by a total of 16,833,742.9 person-years, with an average follow-up of 5.5 years. Social workers, compared to other workers, were at a higher risk of CMD (HR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.2–1.4) after adjustment. The HR was equal, 1.3, for depression (95 % CI 1.2–1.5) and anxiety or stress-related disorder (95 % CI 1.2–1.4). The association between social work and CMD was stronger among men (HR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.6–1.9) compared to women (HR 1.2, 95 % CI 1.1–1.3). Further, men working as assistance analysts had the highest risk among the occupational categories (HR 2.2, 95 % CI 1.2–3.9). LimitationsCMD diagnoses only included cases treated in secondary care. ConclusionsSocial workers, especially male social workers, had a higher risk of CMD. This deserves attention for future research and interventions aimed at improving the mental health of social workers.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Exposure to COVID-19 Pandemic among Health Care Workers in Babylon, Iraq

Abstract Background: COVID-19 is an extremely infectious disease. Health care workers (HCWs) are exposed to high occupational risk because of Coronavirus. Objectives: To study the prevalence and risk factors of exposure to COVID-19 among HCWs. Materials and Methods: The study design was cross-sectional and consisted of 527 participants of HCWs, Data was collected through direct interviews by using simple Random Sampling) technique, the questionnaire format was built exclusively by the researchers for this purpose and consisted of four axes which included socio-demographic variables, COVID-19 prevalence, vaccination status, and risk factors. Furthermore; Laboratory examinations were used in this study to detect newly infected cases of HCWs, we screened HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-PCR. The study period started from October 2, 2022 until May 30, 2023. This study was conducted at Babylon Health Directorate, Babylon governorate. Results: The findings indicate that a majority of HCWs participating in this study were in the age group 26–30 years 146 (27.7%), and predominantly females 302 (57.3%), 344 (65.3%) were residents in urban regions, with 228 (43.3%) holding technical diploma degree and nursing professionals makeup 201 (38.1%) of occupational titles, and most of them were working in emergency units 107 (20.3%). The results registered 352 (66.8%) of HCWs were infected previously with COVID-19, and 64 (12.1%) new infected cases diagnosed by RT-PCR, largely among paramedical staff 40 (20.3%), and a highly recorded at Al-Hashimiyah health sector 26 (11.9%). Data analysis reveals that a significant association between infection and some risk variables regards participants who visited epidemiological units, and those who visited physician clinics during the pandemic. Results suggest a significant association between not being vaccinated and COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the participants with chronic diseases were more likely to be infected compared to those without chronic diseases (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The study concluded that COVID-19 was prevalent among HCWs and significantly associated with some health and occupational risk factors.

Musculoskeletal complaints, physical work demands, and functional capacity in individuals with a brachial plexus injury: An exploratory study.

Musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) may be more common in individuals with brachial plexus injury (BPI), whose physical work demands exceed their functional capacity (FC). (a) To assess the concurrent validity of five methods for measuring upper extremity work demands and the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). (b) To explore the relations between MSCs, physical work demands, and FC in individuals with BPI. This study had a descriptive correlational design. Physical work demands of 16 individuals with BPI (12 males, 6 one-handed workers) were assessed during work using five assessment methods and the DOT. Spearman correlation coefficients between work demand methods were determined. FC was assessed using the functional capacity evaluation one-handed (FCE-OH). A questionnaire was used to examine MSCs. The relationship between MSCs, physical work demands and FC was analyzed visually, using Spearman correlation coefficients, and by comparing FCE-OH results to FCE reference values. Spearman correlation coefficients for the DOT and four out of five assessment methods for determining work demands on upper extremities were significant and moderate (four combinations: r = 0.65-0.79) to strong (five combinations: r = 0.81-0.94). Correlations of the fifth method with the other methods were weak to fair. No significant relationships were found between MSCs, physical work demands and FCE-OH results. The relationships between MSCs, physical work demands, and FC are evidently complex and require further investigation. In this small sample the concurrent validity of the DOT and four methods for determining work demands on upper extremities was moderate to good.

Risk Factors for Occupational Blood Exposure, Compliance with Policies of Infection Prevention and Control, and Costs Associated with Post Exposure Management Among Nursing Staff.

To examine the risk factors linked with occupational blood exposure (OBE) among nursing staff (NS), we pinpoint deficiencies in the compliance with policies of infection prevention and control, and assess the expenditures associated with infection prevention and control. Healthcare workers that completed an "Occupational Blood Exposure Report Form" were divided into NS (observation) group and non-NS (control) group. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to compare both groups in various aspects. We also explored design patents intended to minimize occupational exposure. The highest incidence of OBE was observed in the department of neurosurgery. Among NS, OBE incidence was found to be influenced by independent risk factors, such as gender, age, occupational title, work location, and incidence of sharps injuries. Protective factors against OBEs included the use of arterial blood gas needles and suture needles. Personal protective equipment (PPE) usage rates were low in both groups prior to OBEs (0.74% vs 0.00%, P > 0.05). Correct emergency management could be improved promptly by both groups following an OBE (P > 0.05). However, the observation group exhibited a higher proportion of blood expression after a sharps injury and a higher re-evaluation rate at 6 months post-exposure compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In 2018, the per capita costs of infection prevention and control for NS were the Chinese Yuan (RMB) 339.43 per individual. In response to these findings, two utility model patents have been authorized. The risk and protective factors related to the occurrence of OBEs were investigated in this study, suggesting that there is a need for improvement in the rate of PPE usage and the re-evaluation rate of OBEs among NS. Additionally, focused training on emergency blood expression and compliance with policies among non-NS personnel is deemed necessary.

Cognitive reserve and the risk of postoperative neurocognitive disorders in older age.

Postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) are postoperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) that frequently occur in the aftermath of a surgical intervention. Cognitive reserve (CR) is a concept posited to explain why cognitive health varies between individuals. On this qualitative understanding of cognitive health, factors like IQ, education level, and occupational complexity can affect the impact of neuropathological processes on cognitive outcomes. We investigated the association between CR and POD and CR and POCD on data from 713 patients aged≥65 years with elective surgery. Peak pre-morbid IQ was estimated from vocabulary. Occupational complexity was coded according to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). Education level was classed according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). These three factors were used as proxies of CR. In a series of regression models, age, sex, depression, site of surgery, and several lifestyle and vascular factors were controlled for. Patients with a higher IQ had lower odds of developing POD. We found no significant association between the other two CR markers with POD. None of the CR markers was associated with POCD. The significant association of a higher IQ with lower POD risk allows for the stratification of elderly surgical patients by risk. This knowledge can aid the prevention and/or early detection of POD. Further research should attempt to determine the lack of associations of CR markers with POCD in our study.

COVID-19: incidence and mortality in Sweden comparing all foreign-born to all Swedish-born individuals in different occupations in an unvaccinated cohort of year 2020

ObjectivesThe aim was to analyse the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in immigrants compared with Swedish born in inpatients and outpatient registers, respectively.MethodsThe study population included all persons 20–88 years...

Occupational Category and Professional Title Influencing the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) of Quality Training: A Cross-Sectional Survey From a Tertiary General Hospital.

Quality improvement is an international priority, and quality education and training are important parts of hospital quality management. The aim of this study was to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and its influencing factors related to quality training in medical staff. A questionnaire survey was conducted by convenience sampling to assess the KAP of quality training in Taizhou Enze Medical Center. Principal component analysis was used to extract factors from the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequency, median, mean), Kendall grade correlation analysis, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data. A total of 205 staff members participated in the questionnaire survey. For the 5 factors of the KAP scale, the highest score was factor F4, recognition and support for quality training (mean = 90.55, median = 100), followed by factor F3, perceived benefits (mean = 84.46, median = 85.65). Relatively lower scores were found for factor F2, quality knowledge learning and mastery (mean = 63.09, median = 63.89), and F5, quality management practices and sharing (mean = 82.07, median = 75.00). There was a correlation between the 5 factors. The scores of F2 (quality knowledge learning and mastery) for staff with senior professional titles were higher than those for staff with intermediate professional titles or below. The score of F3 (perceived benefits of quality training) in medical technicians and nurses was higher than in doctors and administrative personnel. Our findings showed that the respondents' attitude toward quality training was positive, but their knowledge mastery and practice behaviors should be further improved. Occupational category and professional title were the influencing factors of the quality training KAP. Therefore, hospital should conduct quality management training at a wider scope according to the competency requirements of different groups, and further optimize the improvement and innovation system.

The U.S. Workforce From 1960 to 2020: A RIASEC View

This paper analyzes civilian occupations and employment data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau over seven decades (1960–2020) with respect to six kinds of work (Holland’s RIASEC classification). The focus is on (a) occupational titles used, (b) civilian employment, and (c) income. This study is a continuation and extension of eight articles published earlier by 11 different scholars, and it represents a 10th contribution to career development and vocational psychology literature with respect to the environmental aspects of Holland’s theory. In each census period, the Artistic area was the smallest area of employment at 1% or 2%. At the other extreme, the Realistic area was a large area of employment, ranging from 55% in 1960 to 26% in 2020. The principal findings of the current study are examined in terms of three research questions followed by a discussion of the implications for career counseling practice.

The impact of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical workload on disability pension–a cohort study of Swedish men

ObjectiveUnderstanding the impact of physical capacity in combination with high physical workload could be beneficial for the prevention of health-related exits from work. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the separate and combined effects of low cardiorespiratory fitness and high physical workload on disability pension (DP) due to any cause, musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).MethodsA total of 279 353 men born between 1951 and 1961 were followed regarding DP between 2006 and 2020, ages 45–64. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed during military conscription, using an ergometer bicycle test. Physical workload was based on a job-exposure matrix (JEM) linked to occupational title in 2005. Cox regression models estimated separate and combined associations with DP.ResultsLow cardiorespiratory fitness and high physical workload were associated with increased risk of DP. For all cause DP, the fully adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for those with low cardiorespiratory fitness was 1.38 (1.32–1.46) and for those with high physical workload 1.48 (1.39–1.57). For all cause and MSD DP, but not for CVD DP, the combination of low cardiorespiratory fitness and high physical workload resulted in higher risks than when adding the effect of the single exposures.ConclusionBoth low cardiorespiratory fitness in youth and later exposure to high physical workload were associated with an increased risk of DP, where workers with the combination of both low cardiorespiratory fitness and a high physical workload had the highest risks (all-cause and MSD DP).

Fine-Auth: A Fine-Grained User Authentication and Key Agreement Protocol Based on Physical Unclonable Functions for Wireless Body Area Networks

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) can be used to realize the real-time monitoring and transmission of health data concerning the human body based on wireless communication technology. With the transmission of these sensitive health data, security and privacy protection issues have become increasingly prominent. Fine-grained authentication allows physicians to run authentication checks of another specific entity according to their identifying attributes. Hence, it plays a key role in preserving the security and privacy of WBANs. In recent years, substantial research has been carried out on fine-grained authentication. However, these studies have put considerable effort into WBAN performances, resulting in weakened security. This paper proposes a fine-grained user authentication and key agreement protocol based on physical unclonable functions (PUFs) while maintaining robust security and performance. This will allow physicians to perform mutual authentication and obtain key agreements with authorized body area sensor nodes according to their identity parameters, such as occupation type and title. We then provide comprehensive security and heuristic analyses to demonstrate the security of the proposed protocol. Finally, the performance comparison shows that the proposed protocol is more robust in security, cost-effective communication, and computational overheads compared to three leading alternatives.

An investigation of P-12 school administrator stress in South Dakota

Stress is a demand made between the adaptive ability of the mind and body and the experience and resources available to cope with those demands and has become an epidemic in society and notably in educational settings. With the growing emphasis of overall wellbeing of students, few studies have focused on those who are in charge of the wellbeing of those students: school administrators. This study aimed to identify factors that impact stress in P-12 (Preschool-Grade 12) school administrators in South Dakota by administering the Administrative Survey Index (ASI). A total of N = 253 school administrators completed the survey. Initial results indicate that administrative constraints, interpersonal relations, and intrapersonal conflicts were the greatest sources of stress. Additionally, the degree to which an ASI item was a source of stress varied by administrators’ gender, occupational title, and grade range of students. The findings are discussed and future directions for research are presented.