Personal Strain Questionnaire Research Articles

Association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite concentration in urine and occupational stress in underground coal miners in China: propensity score and bayesian kernel machine regression.

This study intends to examine the association of urinary monohydroxyl PAHs (OH-PAHs) concentration and occupational stress in coal miners. We sampled 671 underground coal miners from Datong, China, assessed their occupational stress using the Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised edition (OSI-R), and categorized them into the high stress miners and controls based on that. We determined urinary OH-PAHs concentration using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and analyzed its association with occupational stress using multiple linear regression, covariate balancing generalized propensity score (CBGPS), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The low molecular weight (LMW) OH-PAHs in quartile or homologue was significantly positively associated with Occupational Role Questionnaire (ORQ) and Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ) score, but was not associated with Personal Resources Questionnaire (PRQ) score. The OH-PAHs concentration was positively associated with ORQ and PSQ scores in coal miners, particularly the LMW OH-PAHs. Non-association was found in the OH-PAHs with PRQ score.

JOB SATISFACTION AS A FUNCTION OF SELF-EFFICACY AND PERSONAL STRAIN AMONG HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH STATE OF INDIA

Job satisfaction is a worker’s sense of achievement and success on the job. It is generally perceived to be directly linked to productivity as well as to personal well-being. Job satisfaction implies doing a job one enjoys, doing it well and being rewarded for one’s efforts. Job satisfaction further implies enthusiasm and happiness with one’s work. Job satisfaction is the key ingredient that leads to recognition, income, promotion and the achievement of other goals that lead to a feeling of fulfillment. Aim: Job satisfaction as a function of self-efficacy and personal strain among high school teachers in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state of India. Objective: To assess the impact of self-efficacy and personal strain on job satisfaction among high school teachers. Sample: Sample of the present study consists of 400 primary teachers in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh State. Tools: The job satisfaction scale developed by Karanam Bahaboobuvali and Vijaya Vardhini (2013), self-efficacy scale standardized by Nelson and Copeland (2004) and personal strain questionnaire was assessed and standardized by Samuel Osipow and Spokane (1987) were used. Conclusion: Results revealed that self-efficacy and personal strain have significant impact on job satisfaction.

Assessment and Discussion of Correlation Among Psychological Symptoms, Occupational Strain, and Neurotic Personality for Metro Drive.

Metro driver is the prime person who is responsible for metro operation safety. The mental health of a metro driver is very important for the operation of the subway and requires the driver to keep high mental alertness to monitor the surrounding environment and also handle emergencies under uncertain or dangerous conditions. After a long-term occupational strain, a metro driver is likely to suffer from some mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, that ultimately threaten the lives of passengers. Therefore, in this study, we focus on the psychological symptoms of metro drivers from the angle of occupational strain and neuroticism. A total of 396 metro drivers from Kunming Rail Transit Operation Co., Ltd. in China were investigated through a questionnaire survey. Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ), and NEO-Five-Factor Inventory-Neuroticism Subscale (NEO-FFI-N) were applied to evaluate the psychological symptoms, occupational strain, and neuroticism in metro drivers, respectively. The surveyed data were analyzed by SPSS software. Based on the data, a path structural equation model was established to explore the correlation among occupational strain, psychological symptoms, and neuroticism. The results show that the scores for psychological symptoms and occupational strain are higher than the Chinese adult norm among metro drivers. The occupational strain, neuroticism, and psychological symptoms are all positively correlated in the metro drivers. Occupational stress has a direct influence on the psychological symptom, while neuroticism plays a partial mediation role between occupational strain and psychological symptoms. The results of this study can be applied to optimize the employee selection system and training system for metro operation companies.

Research on the Effects of Occupational Stress and the DRD2 Gene on the Psychological Health of Workers in the Xinjiang Desert Oil Field.

Background: This study investigated the relationship between occupational stress and the mental health of people working in oil fields in the arid desert environment of Xinjiang, and revealed the causal relationship between occupational stress and psychological disorders, while furthermore exploring the relationship between psychological disorders and genetic levels.Methods: The participants of this study included oil field company workers from the Xinjiang Petroleum Administration of Karamay City, Xinjiang, who underwent occupational health examinations. The Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition (OSI-R) was used to measure the occupational stress of the oil workers. The mental health status of oil workers was evaluated using the Symptoms Checklist-90.Results: Occupational tasks: The total scores of the personal strain and mental health questionnaires were positively correlated with somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, terror, paranoia, and psychosis (P < 0.05). Individual coping resources and the mental health total score was negatively correlated with somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, terror, paranoia, and psychosis. The following factors were identified as mental health risk factors: female gender; age 45 and above (relative to ≤30 years old); high scores on the personal strain questionnaire; occupational stress; external effort; internal investment; and high effort-low return. The following factors were identified as protective factors for mental health: Han nationality; oil transportation (relative to drilling); individual resilience; and work returns. In respect to the abnormal psychological group and the normal psychological group, statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies at the rs1800497 locus (P < 0.05). The depression and paranoia scores observed between different genotype groups at the rs1800497 locus were statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusions: This study shows that occupational stress and the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene have an impact on the mental health of oil field workers in the arid desert environment of Xinjiang. Effort-reward imbalance and occupational stress were identified as risk factors for mental health, while rewards for work were protective factors. Higher levels of occupational stress may lead to depression and other psychological disorders, adversely affecting mental health. In oil field operators in the arid desert environment of Xinjiang, the AA genotype of the DRD2 gene in the rs1800497 locus was identified as a genotype specific to susceptibility to mental health problems, and a correlation was found between the A allele and an increased risk of psychological problems. Therefore, it is necessary to devise relevant measures to alleviate occupational stress among oil workers and increase their job rewards, so as to improve their mental health.

Relationship between occupational stress and working ability of workers in a petroleum processing enterprise in high altitude area

Objective: To investigate the relationship between occupational stress and working ability of workers in a petroleum processing enterprise in a high altitude area. Methods: A total of 728 workers in a petroleum processing enterprise at an altitude of 2850 m were subjected to a survey using Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) , Work Ability Index (WAI) Scale, Occupational Role Questionnaire (ORQ) , Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ) , and Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) from May 2014 to August 2016. Results: Of the 728 workers, 55 (7.6%) had a poor working ability, moderate in 262 (35.9%) , and good in 411 (56.5%). There were significant differences in WAI between the workers with different types of work, sexes, ages, and working years (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in WAI between different occupational stress groups (P<0.05). WAI was negatively correlated with ORQ score and PSQ score (r(s)=-0.387, P<0.05; r(s)=-0.467, P<0.05) and positively correlated with PRQ score (r(s)=0.343, P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that high ORQ score and PSQ score were the inhibitory factors for high WAI (B=-0.058; B=-0.082) and high PRQ score was a contributing factor for high WAI (B=0.029) . Conclusion: Occupational stress is an influencing factor for the working ability of workers in the petroleum processing enterprise in the high altitude area. Hypoxia in high altitude area may further reduce the working ability. In order to reduce occupational stress and improve work ability, it should be considered to strengthen skills training, improve the working environment, and pay attention to mental health.

Effect of Job Strain on Job Burnout, Mental Fatigue and Chronic Diseases among Civil Servants in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

Job strain is a major concern in view of its effects among civil servants associated with job burnout, mental fatigue and chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the job strain level among civil servants and examine the effect of job strain on job burnout, mental fatigue and the resulting chronic diseases. A cross-sectional study with a representative sample consisting of 5000 civil servants was conducted from March to August 2014. Using a structured questionnaire, the job strain level, job burnout and mental fatigue were measured by using the Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), respectively. Overall, 33.8% of the civil servants were found to be afflicted with high and moderate job strain. The characteristics of most of the civil servants with a higher-job strain level were as follows: female, Uygur, lower educational level and job title rank, shorter working experience, married marital status, and lower income level. Civil servants suffering from chronic disease mainly had hypertension and coronary heart disease, which accounted for 18.5% of the diseases. Civil servants with a high-job strain level exhibited higher rates of burnout, mental fatigue scores and incidence of chronic diseases. There was a multiple linear regression model composed of three predictor variables in job burnout, which accounted for 45.0% of its occurrence: female gender, lower-income level, higher-job strain in civil servants, the greater the rate of job burnout was. Four factors—male gender, lower-job title rank, higher-job strain, shorter-job tenure of civil servants—explained 25.0% of the mental fatigue model. Binary logistic regression showed that intermediate-rank employees (OR = 0.442, 95% CI: 0.028–0.634; p < 0.05), job tenure of 10–20 years (OR = 0.632, 95% CI: 0.359–0.989; p < 0.05), and low-job strain (OR = 0.657, 95% CI: 0.052–0.698; p < 0.05) were all associated with significantly lower odds of chronic disease. The risk of chronic disease was higher in civil servants with high-job burnout scores and mental fatigue scores compared with civil servants with lower scores (OR = 1.139, 95% CI: 1.012–3.198; OR = 1.697, 95% CI: 1.097–2.962). These data provide evidence for the effects of job strain on job burnout, mental fatigue and chronic diseases among civil servants.

The Effect of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Occupational Stress among Health Care Workers: A Pilot Study.

ObjectiveRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to alleviate symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rTMS treatment on alleviating occupational stress by evaluating clinical symptoms and quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG).MethodsTwenty-four health care workers were randomized to receive 12 sessions of active or sham rTMS delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Each session consisted of 32 trains of 10 Hz repetitive TMS delivered in 5-second trains at 110% of the estimated prefrontal cortex threshold. Before and after the intervention, the Korean version of the occupational stress inventory (K-OSI), Beck's depression inventory (BDI), and Beck's anxiety inventory (BAI) were administered and EEG was performed using a 21-channel digital EEG system.ResultsAfter TMS, the average scores for the affective responses to stressors on the personal strain questionnaire (PSQ) subscale of K-OSI and BDI decreased significantly for the active-TMS group compared to the sham-TMS group. Also, the active-TMS group showed a significantly greater decrease in relative alpha in the F3 electrode and a significantly greater increase in the F4 electrode.ConclusionHigh-frequency rTMS on the left DLPFC had stress-relieving and mood-elevating effects in health care workers, likely by stimulating the left frontal lobe.

Relationship between occupational stress and mental health in offshore oil platform workers

To investigate the relationship between occupational stress and mental health in offshore oil platform workers and to provide a scientific basis for protection of their mental health. A total of 768 workers on offshore oil platform were surveyed with the Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition and Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90). The total score of Occupational Role Questionnaire (ORQ) for the workers (160.27±24.63) was significantly lower than the national norm (166.52±27.01) (P < 0.01); the total score of Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ) (101.96±19.8) was significantly higher than the national norm (92.45±17.33) (P < 0.01). The total score of Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) for the workers was not significantly different from the national norm (P > 0.05), but the items of recreation, social support, and rational/cognitive found significant difference (P < 0.05). The total score of SCL-90 was positively correlated with all items of ORQ and PSQ (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with all items of PRQ (P < 0.01). The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that current work seniority, education background, drinking, role overload, role insufficiency, role ambiguity, responsibility, physical environment, and rational/cognitive conduct impacted the score of SCL-90 (P < 0.05). The mental health of workers on offshore oil platform is related to occupational stress, and role overload, role ambiguity, physical environment, and rational/cognitive conduct, etc, are closely associated with the workers' mental health.

Differential roles of positive and negative perfectionism in predicting occupational eustress and distress

Although perfectionism is often associated with increased occupational stress, little research has explored the differential roles of adaptive (positive perfectionism [PP]) and maladaptive (negative perfectionism [NP]) perfectionism in predicting psychological responses to stressors. Applying the Holistic Model of Stress, this study examined the role of perfectionism in explaining positive (eustress) and negative (distress) stress responses, as indicated by vigor and strain. Participants were 156 employees (73 academic, 83 administrative) from a tertiary institution who completed self-report questionnaires, consisting of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale, Personal Strain Questionnaire (involving vocational, psychological, interpersonal, and physical strain), Shirom-Melamed Vigor Measure, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions assessed how PP and NP predicted vigor and strain. After controlling for social desirability, higher PP predicted greater vigor, and lower vocational and physical strain; whereas higher NP predicted less vigor, and greater vocational, psychological, interpersonal, and physical strain. Therefore, PP and NP are evidently different in the understanding of responses to stressors. Promoting PP may aid in lowering strain perceptions associated with one’s job and body. Interventions to cope with increased NP could improve overall well-being.

Commentary on Su SF, Boore J, Jenkins M, Liu PE &amp; Yang MJ (2009) Nurses’ perception of environmental pressure in relation to their occupational stress. Journal of Clinical Nursing 18, 3172–3180

Commentary on Su SF, Boore J, Jenkins M, Liu PE &amp; Yang MJ (2009) Nurses’ perception of environmental pressure in relation to their occupational stress. Journal of Clinical Nursing 18, 3172–3180

Occupational Stress and Its Related Factors among University Teachers in China

University teachers in China are expected to suffer serious occupational stress due to the expanding enrollment in universities without a proportional increase in teacher resources and the fact that all promotions for university teachers are determined based on not only teaching but also the outcome of scientific research. This study was designed to assess the occupational stress among university teachers in China and clarify its risk factors. A cross-sectional study was performed in Liaoning Province, the centralized area of higher education in Northeast China. Eight universities (2 multidiscipline and 6 specialized) and 10% of academic staff each were randomly sampled. Questionnaires pertaining to occupational stress indicated by the Chinese Version Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ) and demographic characteristics, health status, work situations, and personal and social resources were distributed in October 2008. A total of 827 effective respondents (response rate 76.4%) became our participants. The average raw score of PSQ was 91.0 among the university teachers. General linear model analysis showed that the factors significantly associated with the PSQ score were, in standardized estimate (β) sequence, mental health, role overload, role insufficiency, social support, monthly income, role limitations due to physical problems, research finance and self-rated disease with adjustment for age and sex. We concluded that, in comparison to work-related factors and social support, mental health is a prominent risk factor for occupational stress in university teachers in China. Improvement of mental health and organizational climate should be considered to lessen the occupational stress of university teachers.

Factors associated with occupational stress among Chinese female emergency nurses

BackgroundNursing is a highly stressful occupation and occupational stress is much greater among nurses who work within emergency departments. However, few studies in China focusing on this problem are available.ObjectiveTo...

Factors associated with occupational strain among Chinese teachers: a cross-sectional study

With the reform of the education system in China, teachers are suffering frommore occupational strain, which is believed to impair their working state indirectly and affect their health. This study assessed occupational strain and explored the related factors among Chinese teachers. Cross-sectional with cluster sampling. The study population was composed of 3570 school teachers working in 64 primary and middle schools in Heping District in Shenyang, China. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire (the Chinese version of the Occupational Stress Inventory scale). Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to study the factors related to occupational strain. The average score on the Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ) for the whole study population was 106.5 (107.5 in men and 106.3 in women). Teachers with chronic disease, a greater number of days of sick leave, recent experience of a stressful life event and divorced/separated/widowed status tended to suffer greater strain than their peers. Regression analyses showed that the PSQ score was significantly associated with role overload, role boundary, responsibility and physical environment, and inversely associated with recreation and rational coping. The most crucial predictors of occupational strain were chronic disease, days of sick leave, recent experience of a stressful life event and marital status. Being a class teacher was the strongest indicator of interpersonal strain. Self-care was associated with vocational strain and psychological strain, and inversely associated with physical strain. Most teachers in this study experienced a high degree of occupational strain. Chronic disease, days of sick leave, recent experience of a stressful life event and divorced/separated/widowed status played prominent roles in occupational strain. In addition, role overload, role boundary, responsibility and physical environment induce occupational strain, while recreation and rational coping have a positive effect on occupational strain. Interventions such as proper management of chronic diseases and establishment of a balanced work-family life are crucial to reduce occupational strain. Recreation and training in coping abilities are needed to enhance positive working environments and attenuate the occupational strain imposed on teachers.

Occupational stress among hospital nurses: cross‐sectional survey

This paper is a report of a study conducted to explore factors associated with occupational stress among female hospital nurses in China. Nursing is a highly stressful occupation, and high levels of occupational stress are believed to affect the physical and mental health of nurses. Occupational stress among nurses is the result of exposure to a combination of working environment and personal factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008. The study population consisted of 2613 female nurses from 20 hospitals in the Liaoning province of China. Occupational stress was measured by questionnaires that included the Chinese version of Personal Strain Questionnaire, and data were collected on respondents' demographics, working situations, occupational roles, and personal resources. Of the nurses solicited for enrolment in the study, 79.2% returned the completed questionnaire. A general linear regression model was applied to analyse the factors associated with occupational stress. Mean Personal Strain Questionnaire score was 86.9, and this score was correlated, in descending order of standardized estimate, with role boundary, role insufficiency, responsibility, social support, self-care, nurse-patient relationship, chronic disease, role overload, rational coping and night shift. Role boundary and role insufficiency were the factors that had the highest association with occupational stress. Occupational health education and occupational training programmes may be necessary to improve the knowledge and ability of nurses to cope with job demands and reduce occupational stress.

Factors associated with occupational stress among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional survey

Doctors constitute the main workforce in hospitals and are known to experience occupational stress. High level of stress is believed to affect doctors' physical and mental health. Thus, it is essential to study doctors' occupational stress well to improve their quality of lives. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with occupational stress among Chinese doctors in public hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of May/June 2008. The study population comprised 1989 doctors registered and working in the 20 national hospitals in Liaoning province, China. A questionnaire pertaining to occupational stress that was assessed based on the Chinese Version Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ), demographic characteristics, work situations, occupational roles, and personal resources was distributed to these doctors. A total of 1,587 effective respondents (673 men, 914 women) became our subjects (effective response rate 79.8%). The general linear model (GLM) was employed to explore the factors related to occupational stress. All data analysis was performed separately in men and women. The average PSQ score was 86.92 in the total study population, 89.4 in men and 85.1 in women among Chinese doctors. GLM showed that PSQ was significantly associated with, in standard estimate (beta) sequence, role boundary, role insufficiency, responsibility, social support, rational/cognitive coping, doctor-patient relationship and role overload in men; whereas with role insufficiency, role boundary, social support, responsibility, self-care, role overload, education, chronic disease, and doctor-patient relationship in women. These results indicate that the major factors associated with occupational stress differed between male and female doctors in China. Overall, role boundary and role insufficient were the most crucial factors in male and female doctors, respectively. Therefore, occupational health education and occupational training programs with the purpose to improve doctor's knowledge and ability to copy with their task should be considered to lessen occupational stress among Chinese doctors.

Coping resources of nurses' occupational stress

To study the effects of coping resources on nurses' strain. Coping resources (recreation, self-care, social support, and rational coping) and strain (vocational strain, psychological strain, interpersonal strain, and physical strain) were measured on 387 nurses with personal resources questionnaire (PRQ) and personal strain questionnaire (PSQ). The higher the nurses' coping resources were, the lower their strain was (P<0.01). Nurses' coping resources had a negative correlation with their strain and had the closest relation with their psychological strain (P<0.01). Among coping resources, social support was closest related with nurses' strain. In the items of social support, those related to feeling support had more remission on strain. In the items of rational coping, those related to keeping good mind had more remission on strain, while doing more than one job at one time could raise nurses' strain (P<0.05). In the items of self-care, those related to good healthy habit, being immersed in contemplation and sufficient sleeping had the most effects on the remission of strain. In the items of recreation, those related to enough rest and self-determination had more effects on the remission of strain, while doing other things in most of leisure time had a positive correlation with strain (P<0.05). Enhancing coping resources, especially feeling support, keeping good mind, sufficient sleeping and rest, are the important measures for the remission of nurses' strain.

Intervention on occupational stress among teachers in the middle schools in China

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions on occupational stress among teachers in middle schools. The study group consists of 459 teachers (247 men and 212 women) from four middle schools. The control group consists of 502 teachers (271 men and 231 women). The three dimensions of occupational adjustment (including occupational stress, psychological strain, and coping resources) were measured with the Occupational Stress Inventory‐Revised Edition (OSI‐R) and the work ability was assessed with the Work Ability Index (WAI) among teachers. The integrated interventions (involving organizational and individual level intervention) were taken to the teachers in the study group. The main results were as follows. The scores of some scales of occupational role questionnaire and personal strain questionnaire decreased significantly and the scores of some scales of personal resources questionnaire and WAI increased significantly after intervening. This study suggested that interventions were efficient in reducing the teachers' occupational stressors, increased their coping resources and improved their work ability. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

The scale and application of the norm of occupational stress on the professionals in Chengdu and Chongqing area

To establish the scale of the norm of occupational stress on the professionals and put it into practice. T scores were linear transformations of raw scores, derived to have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. The scale standard of the norm was formulated in line with the principle of normal distribution. (1) For the occupational role questionnaire (ORQ) and personal strain questionnaire (PSQ) scales, high scores suggested significant levels of occupational stress and psychological strain, respectively. T scores >/= 70 indicated a strong probability of maladaptive stress, debilitating strain, or both. T scores in 60 approximately 69 suggested mild levels of maladaptive stress and strain, and in 40 approximately 59 were within one standard deviation of the mean and should be interpreted as being within normal range. T scores < 40 indicated a relative absence of occupational stress or psychological strain. For the personal resources questionnaire (PRQ) scales, high scores indicated highly developed coping resources. T scores < 30 indicated a significant lack of coping resources. T scores in 30 approximately 39 suggested mild deficits in coping skills, and in 40 approximately 59 indicated average coping resources, where as higher scores (i.e., >/= 60) indicated increasingly strong coping resources. (2) This study provided raw score to T-score conversion tables for each OSI-R scale for the total normative sample as well as for gender, and several occupational groups, including professional engineer, professional health care, economic business, financial business, law, education and news. OSI-R profile forms for total normative samples, gender and occupation were also offered according to the conversion tables. The norm of occupational stress can be used as screening tool, organizational/occupational assessment, guide to occupational choice and intervention measures.

Occupational stress among obstetrician/gynecologists.

Our objective was to assess occupational stress in obstetrician/gynecologists using a standardized, validated tool. The Osipow Occupational Stress Inventory, which measures occupational stress (occupational roles questionnaire [ORQ]), psychological strain (personal strain questionnaire), and coping resources (personal resources questionnaire), was distributed to 277 obstetrician/gynecologists in Houston. The chi2 or Fisher's exact test was used where appropriate. Sixty-nine surveys were analyzed. Median T scores for all subscales were within the normal range. Abnormal scores were recorded by 22 physicians (31%) on at least one subscale of the ORQ, by 5 physicians (7%) on at least one subscale of the personal strain questionnaire, and by 6 physicians (9%) on at least one subscale of the personal resources questionnaire (P < 0.05). Abnormal scores occurred more frequently in the ORQ domain. Generalists had significantly more abnormal scores than did subspecialists (P < 0.05). Occupational stress is common among obstetrician/gynecologists. This appears to be balanced by good coping skills.

Computerized exercise program does not affect stress levels of asymptomatic VDT users

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a computerized exercise program could reduce stress levels in office workers who use video display terminals (VDTs). Fifty workers were randomly assigned to either an exercise or a control group. Twenty-four subjects were instructed to exercise twice a day for 15 minutes per session for a period of 8 weeks; the remaining 26 subjects in the control group were given no exercise program. Four dimensions of stress were measured before and after the exercise period using the Personal Strain Questionnaire (PSQ), a self-reported measure of physical and psychological stress. A multivariate T-test (Hotelling’s T 2 ) was used to compare changes in stress levels between the two groups of workers, but no significant differences were found. Further analysis of the exercise group revealed that difference in compliance rates among workers did not significantly influence changes in stress levels. These results indicate that this type of exercise program does not reduce stress in asymptomatic VDT users.