Occupational Distress Research Articles

Mental well-being and job satisfaction in general practitioners in Denmark and their patients’ change of general practitioner: a cohort study combining survey data and register data

ObjectivesLow job satisfaction and poor well-being (eg, stress and burnout) among physicians may have negative consequences for patient experienced healthcare quality. In primary care, this could manifest in patients choosing...

The Association Between Occupational Stress and Psychological Distress Using Quantile Regression in Isfahan’s Steel Employees

The Association Between Occupational Stress and Psychological Distress Using Quantile Regression in Isfahan’s Steel Employees

Health indicators as moderators of occupational commitment and nurses' intention to leave

This study examined the hypothesis that health indicators moderate the relationship between occupational commitment and intention to leave among nurses, using a large sample in Japan. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all registered nurses (N = 11,171) working in group hospitals in western Japan in 2014. The questionnaire evaluated intention to leave, occupational commitment, psychological distress, cumulative fatigue, and demographic variables. After a preliminary analysis of the bivariate and multivariate associations between variables and intention to leave, we tested the interactions between occupational commitment and health indicators on intention to leave. Of the 5,768 returned questionnaires, data from 5,505 (49.3%) participants were analyzed. Participants' mean age was 36.27 years (SD = 10.37). Most (95.14%) were women. According to a generalized estimating equation, the interaction of continuance occupational commitment and cumulative fatigue was significantly related to intention to leave (b = -0.0055). Additionally, the interaction of affective occupational commitment and psychological distress was significantly related to intention to leave (b = 0.0079). This study clarified that the relationship between occupational commitment and intention to leave was robust for nurses in good health. Interventions aimed at reducing fatigue and improving psychological distress should be implemented to prevent the protective effects of occupational commitment on nurses' intention to leave from being compromised.

Does occupational distress raise the risk of alcohol use, binge-eating, ill health and sleep problems among medical doctors? A UK cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the prevalence of health problems (eg, insomnia, binge-eating, substance use and ill health) among UK doctors and to investigate whether occupational distress increases the risk...

The Prevalence of Faculty Physician Burnout in Military Graduate Medical Education Training Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study of Academic Physicians in the United States Department of Defense.

In military populations, physician burnout has potential to adversely affect medical readiness to deploy in support of joint operations. Burnout among Graduate Medical Education (GME) faculty may further threaten the welfare of the medical force given the central role these officers have in training and developing junior physicians. The primary aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of burnout among faculty physicians in United States (US) Army, Navy, and Air Force GME programs. We conducted a cross-sectional study of faculty physicians at US military GME training programs between January 2018 and July 2018. Through direct coordination with Designated Institutional Officials, we administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS) via online web link to faculty physicians listed in Accreditation Data System at each sponsoring institution. In addition to the MBI-HSS, we collected demographic data and queried physicians about common occupational stressors in order to assist institutional leaders with identifying at-risk physicians and developing future interventions to address burnout. Sixteen of 21 institutions that currently sponsor military GME programs agreed to distribute the MBI-HSS survey to core faculty. We received completed assessments from 622 of the 1,769 (35.1%) reported physician core faculty at these institutions. Of the 622 physician respondents, 162 demonstrated high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization for an estimated 26% prevalence of burnout. We identified only one independent risk factor for burnout: increasing numbers of deployments (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.07-1.77). Physicians in our cohort who reported a desire to stay beyond their initial active duty service obligation were less likely to be classified with burnout (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.77). The most common drivers of occupational distress were cumbersome bureaucratic tasks, insufficient administrative support, and overemphasis on productivity metrics. We estimate that 26% of physician faculty in military GME programs are experiencing burnout. No specialty, branch of service, or specific demographic was immune to burnout in our sample. Institutional leaders in the MHS should take action to address physician burnout and consider using our prevalence estimate to assess effectiveness of future interventions.

Trait emotional intelligence, coping, and occupational distress among resettlement workers.

Trait emotional intelligence has recently emerged as a negative predictor of work-related distress. However, research that considers the mechanisms underlying the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and distress is lacking, in particular among workers with emotionally intensive occupations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating pathway of coping behaviors in the relations between trait emotional intelligence, and work-related distress outcomes, namely secondary traumatic stress and job burnout in a sample of refugee resettlement workers. Participants were 210 resettlement workers from six organizations in the United States who completed a questionnaire. Questions included self-reported measures of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, trait emotional intelligence, coping behaviors, and history of trauma. The majority of participants identified as White (64.9%) and female (73.6%). The average participant was 32.96 years old (SD = 10.22) and was employed in the same position for 2.64 years (SD = 4.67). Unhealthy coping (e.g., substance use and denial), emerged as a significant mediator of the relations between trait emotional intelligence and the outcomes, with 43% and 64% of the total effects for secondary traumatic stress and burnout mediated. Specifically, trait emotional intelligence negatively related to secondary traumatic stress and burnout via a reduction in unhealthy coping behaviors, rather than an increase in healthy coping ones. Training programs promoting the psychological well-being of employees often focus on the promotion of healthy coping practices. These results suggest the potential value of including trait emotional intelligence training in the development of such programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Workplace Bullying and Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis Among Japanese Employees.

We sought to investigate the contextual effect of workplace bullying on subsequent individual psychological distress and intention to leave. A longitudinal study was conducted among 3142 Japanese employees in the public sector. Both the baseline and follow-up questionnaires inquired about demographic and occupational characteristics, workplace bullying, psychological distress, and intention to leave. The results of three-level (individual-division-department) multilevel analyses revealed that division-level workplace bullying was associated with increased individual-level psychological distress after adjustment for individual experience of workplace bullying, while the association between individual experience of bullying and psychological distress was not statistically significant in the same model. The results of the current study suggest that the presence of bullying in the workplace can have a detrimental effect on employees' mental health even if they are not personally victimized.

Persistent Depressive Symptoms in a Population With High Levels of Occupational Stress: Trajectories Offer Insights Into Both Chronicity and Resilience.

Religious participation and spirituality are linked to good mental health. However, clergy may experience more depression than is observed in the general population, which may be due in part to high job strain. The objectives of this study were to identify distinct longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms in clergy and to identify variables associated with each course. The sample was 1172 clergy who were followed for up to 66 months. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), which was administered approximately every 6 months. Latent class trajectory analysis was conducted for group identification, and a 3-class trajectory model fit the data best. Class 1 (38% of the sample) had minimal or no depressive symptoms over time, class 2 (47%) had chronic mild symptoms, and class 3 (15%) had persistent moderate/severe symptoms. Occupational distress was significantly associated with trajectory class. The odds of being in either the chronic mild or the persistent moderate/severe depressive symptom class were significantly higher for those who were female, for those with fair/poor self-rated health, for those with more perceived financial or occupational stress, for those with lower levels of perceived emotional support, and/or for those with lower levels of spiritual well-being. The class exhibiting resilience to depressive symptoms had higher levels of perceived support and spiritual well-being as well as lower levels of perceived financial and occupational stress. A substantial percentage of clergy, and possibly people in similar helping occupations, may experience significant levels of depressive symptoms that do not remit over time. These individuals may benefit from treatments that address work-related coping.

Occupational Distress and Health among a Sample of Christian Clergy

To examine the association between occupational distress, physical and mental health, and health behaviors among clergy, a convenience sample of full-time Christian clergy (N = 221) completed a questionnaire that included the Clergy Occupational Distress Index (CODI) as well as demographic, occupational, health, and behavioral variables. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Higher scores on the CODI were associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, more hours spent sitting per day, and more hours worked per week. Although years in ministry was not associated with scores on the CODI, a covariate in the model (age) did exhibit an inverse relationship with scores on the CODI. The present study provides support for the potential of occupational distress to negatively influence the health of full-time Christian clergy, especially those who are younger. Further research is needed to examine the temporal relationships among occupational distress, health, and health behaviors among full-time clergy.

Occupational stress and suicidality among firefighters: Examining the buffering role of distress tolerance

Past research indicates that firefighters are at increased risk for suicide. Firefighter-specific occupational stress may contribute to elevated suicidality. Among a large sample of firefighters, this study examined if occupational stress is associated with multiple indicators of suicide risk, and whether distress tolerance, the perceived and/or actual ability to endure negative emotional or physical states, attenuates these associations. A total of 831 firefighters participated (mean [SD] age = 38.37y[8.53y]; 94.5% male; 75.2% White). The Sources of Occupational Stress-14 (SOOS-14), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire—Revised (SBQ-R) were utilized to examine firefighter-specific occupational stress, distress tolerance, and suicidality, respectively. Consistent with predictions, occupational stress interacted with distress tolerance, such that the effects of occupational stress on suicide risk, broadly, as well as lifetime suicide threats and current suicidal intent, specifically, were attenuated at high levels of distress tolerance. Distress tolerance may buffer the effects of occupational stress on suicidality among firefighters. Pending replication, findings suggest that distress tolerance may be a viable target for suicide prevention initiatives within the fire service.

Cognitive bias research and depression in chronic pain

Chronic back pain is of enormous health and economic relevance for industrialized countries because asmall group of patients with chronic disease is responsible for alarge proportion of medical costs. The prevention of chronic disease is therefore aprimary goal in the treatment of patients with acute low back pain. Psychological factors are the central risk factors for later chronification. Above all, especially depressive symptoms and occupational distress, as well as various maladaptive forms of pain management are central risk factors. It remains unclear which exact cognitive mechanisms are involved in the maintenance and reinforcement of depression and pain-related disability. In this review, the current results of cognitive bias research and theoretical models are presented and summarized regarding the relationship between chronic pain and depression. Finally, the clinical implications and recommendations for clinical research will be presented.

Assessment of Stress and Resiliency in Emergency Dispatchers

Although they are technically the first responders on most critical incidents, emergency dispatchers have received a modicum of attention from researchers and clinicians. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate job-related stress, psychological distress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress resiliency, and posttraumatic growth in this high-risk group. These areas were evaluated via an assessment battery administered to 90 emergency dispatchers working in a law enforcement agency. Results showed that dispatchers experienced an average amount of occupational stress, with 24% of the current sample reporting significant job stress. Between 13.34 and 15.56% reported symptoms consistent with a PTSD diagnosis, and 16.67% indicated sub-threshold PTSD symptomatology. The findings revealed that, overall, dispatchers experience occupational stress, psychological distress, and sub-threshold PTSD at similar or higher rates compared to police officers. Further, dispatchers reported posttraumatic growth at an average rate, also similar to that reported by police officers. Clinical implications of the results are discussed. Suggestions for directions that future research might take are offered.

Prevalence of oncologists in distress: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

High mortality from cancer and rising patient numbers can trigger distress among oncologists because of a heavy and emotionally demanding workload. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the prevalence of high levels of distress among oncologists. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol is registered at the PROSPERO international prospective register (ref. 2015:CRD42015016325). We categorised data items according to the following distress factors: burnout, psychiatric morbidity, stress, depression, disrupted sleep, stress-induced physical symptoms, and substance use. We meta-analysed the prevalence of burnout and psychiatric morbidity using random effects models with MetaXL software. The meta-analyses showed that 32% of 4876 oncologists had high burnout (±CI 28%-36%) and 27% of 2384 had high psychiatric morbidity (±CI 23%-32%). Studies also showed that 42% to 69% feel stressed at work, >12% of oncologists screen positive for depression, many oncologists suffer from sleep deprivation, up to 30% drink alcohol in a problematic way, and up to 20% of junior oncologists use hypnotic drugs, and some frequently experience stress-induced complaints such as ulcers, gastric problems, headaches, and arrhythmia. Occupational distress reduces career satisfaction, affects patient care, and increases the chances of oncologists switching to another area of medicine; therefore, future research should explore appropriate interventions.

Is there an independent association between burnout and increased allostatic load? Testing the contribution of psychological distress and depression.

Burnout has been suggested to be related to depression. We examined the relationship between burnout and allostatic load, and whether this association is independent of psychological distress and depression. We measured burnout psychological distress, depression, and allostatic load in 3283 participants. Higher burnout (β = 0.06, p =0.003) and cynicism (β = 0.03, p = 0.031) and decreased professional efficacy (β = 0.03, p = 0.007) were related to higher allostatic load independent of age, sex, education, occupation and psychological distress. Depression, however, explained 60 percent of the association. Burnout is related to higher allostatic load, and this association partly overlaps with co-occurring depression.

Physicians' occupational stress, depressive symptoms and work ability in relation to their working environment: a cross-sectional study of differences among medical residents with various specialties working in German hospitals

ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyse and compare differences in occupational stress, depressive symptoms, work ability and working environment among residents working in various medical specialties.Methods435 German hospital residents in medical...

Assessing the Impact of Nationwide Smoking Cessation Interventions among Employed, Middle-Aged Japanese Men, 2005-2010.

BackgroundA variety of tobacco control interventions have become available in Japan over the past decade, however, the magnitude to which they have impacted on smoking rates may have varied by socioeconomic status such as job content, particularly for middle-aged men who were formerly long-term smokers. We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate the differences between smoking cessation strategies among a national sample of middle-aged Japanese employed men between 2005 and 2010.MethodsData was extracted from a previous longitudinal survey of middle-aged and elderly people that had been conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In 2005, 16,738 Japanese men aged 50–59 years were recruited and sent a questionnaire in each year of the study. We analyzed data for individuals who reported being current smokers at baseline. Cox’s discrete time proportional hazard regression analysis was used to examine potential associations between smoking cessation and socioeconomic factors.ResultsOf the 6187 employed, male smokers who participated in 2005, 31% subsequently quit smoking during the 5-year follow-up period. Those working in manufacturing, transportation, or security were less likely to have quit smoking than those working in management. Having no marital partner, never having been married, or those experiencing psychological distress were significantly less likely to have quit smoking during this time.ConclusionsAlthough almost one-third of middle-aged, male smokers quit their habit between 2005 and 2010; the uptake of this national strategy appears to have been far from uniform across Japanese society. Socioeconomic factors such as occupation, marital status and psychological distress were negatively correlated with quitting, suggesting that these groups should be more aggressively targeted in further interventions.

The stressors of being young and Black: Cardiovascular health and Black young adults

Objective: To examine the impact of stressors relevant to the lives of Black young adults including racial, financial, occupational, and general stress and psychological distress on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between multiple psychosocial stressors and two CVD risk indicators (i.e. obesity and blood pressure).Design: This study used a quantitative design which included surveys, the collection of anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measures. Participants were 124 Black college students aged 18 to 27 years old. Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed measures to assess psychological distress, general, occupational, financial and racial stress. Measures of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and BP were collected to assess CVD risk.Results: Findings indicated a significant effect of internalised racism on BMI and a significant effect of individual racial stress on diastolic BP. Also, depression was significantly associated with systolic BP. There were no significant results for WHR.Conclusion: Findings suggested that the relationship among racial stress, psychological distress and CVD be further explored.

FACTORI BIO-PSIHO-SOCIALI CU RISC PROFESIONAL LA PERSONALUL DIN UNITĂŢILE DE ANESTEZIE ŞI TERAPIE INTENSIVĂ

Profesional stress affects, among physicians, those who practise some medical specialities as oncology, neurosurgery, emergency medicine etc. and especially physicians of anesthesy intensive care units (AIC). Literature data concerning activity of AIC professionals evidentiate the high frequency of burnout syndrome, which may be considered as a first stage of a lot of troubles like behavioral, psychosomatic and psychiatrical ones. Daily distress encountered in AIC physicians and nurses is provoked mainly by the occupational pressure which cumulates the effects of many stressors, they are specific for this profession: overload (intensive and prolonged work – physically and psychically demanding, limited rest and sleep), high emotional tension (working with patients who are at the limit of life, time pressure, danger of severe drugs intolerance etc.), and some strong relational difficulties. These psycho-social stressors are not enough compensated during the recuperation period and act also in an aggravating manner on the frail personality wich is predisposed to anxiety, depression and psychosomatic pathology. After one presentation of general occupational distress, authors have synthesized the causes of burnout syndrome – specific for the AIC unities – and suggested the opportunity for a professional selection in the candidates for AIC speciality, based on psychodiagnostic evaluation.

Reducing Stress At Work

Abstract It has been previously demonstrated that reducing stress at work means actually reducing risk of illness in life. Occupational distress is one of the most important health problems in the E.U. In Europe, it is on the second place as regards the number of days off and cost. Occupational distress affects one out of three employees in the E.U. Over the last few years, some organizations have worked out programs designed to help all the employees physically and mentally in order to prevent problems related to stressing jobs. All these plans are trying to reduce work-related stress. This article aims at presenting some strategies to prevent and reduce stress at the organizational level and individually.

Are Occupational Complexity and Socioeconomic Position Related to Psychological Distress 20 Years Later?

To assess occupational complexity in midlife in relation to psychological distress in older adulthood (69+ years) and explore the role of socioeconomic position. Baseline data from the Swedish Level of Living Survey and follow-up data from the Swedish Longitudinal Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old were combined, resulting in 20+ years of follow-up. Data were analyzed using ordered logistic regressions. Higher occupational complexity was associated with less psychological distress 20 years later adjusted for age, sex, follow-up year, hours worked the year before baseline, and psychological distress at baseline. Higher socioeconomic position yielded the same pattern of results. Socioeconomic position partially accounted for the association between occupational complexity and psychological distress. With social gradient not easily amenable to modification, efforts to increase engagement at work may offer a viable option to attenuate the influence of work environment on psychological distress later in life.