Work-related Strain Research Articles

Back disorders (low back pain, cervicobrachial and lumbosacral radicular syndromes) and some related risk factors

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence rates of low back pain (LBP), cervicobrachial and lumbosacral radicular syndromes (CBR and LSRS) in workers from a fertilizer plant and also to analyze the impact of several important work-related and non-occupational risk factors. Subjects of this comprehensive cross-sectional study were 898 workers and employees from the four main departments of the plant. The following complex of methods was applied: neurologic history, complete neurologic status and statistical method. Results. Age is the first risk factor, discussed by authors. The data showed highly significant differences in the prevalence of CBS—16.2% in the risk group vs. 10.0% in the referent group (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.14–2.63); LBP—25.8% vs. 17.0% (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.21–2.38) and LSRS–16.0% vs. 5.8% (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.89–5.08). Gender is the second risk factor strongly related to LBP, CBS and LSRS. The prevalence of radicular syndromes is higher for women that for men: OR for CBS is 3.27 and 1.93 for LSRS. There is an interesting trend in the case of combined impact of age and gender among men and women of 40 or under and over 40—the risk, estimated by OR, is higher. In men over 40, overweight, obesity and heaviness of smoking, estimated by duration of smoking and daily cigarette consumption (more than 20 years and more than 20 cigarettes per day), increase the risk of developing back disorders (BD). At this stage of the research, there is no proof of the impact of hypercholesterolemia, non-occupational or work-related strain on the development of BD. The authors' conclusion is that these results may support programs for health promotion and health prevention.

Probing the Social Support and Work Strain Relationship among Adult Workers: Contributions of Adult Attachment Orientations

The present study examined the contributions of supervisor support and adult attachment orientation to three indexes of work-related strain within an adult worker sample. In particular, the potential role of adult attachment orientation in moderating support–strain associations was explored. Participants were 117 university employees who completed self-report measures of the variables under investigation. Results indicated that supervisor support and worker adult attachment orientation uniquely predicted all three strain indexes; in addition, the interaction of supervisor support and worker attachment orientation significantly predicted work stress intensity and job satisfaction (but not symptom levels). The implications of these findings for clarifying the beneficial effects of social support on work strain are discussed.

Does Physical Distance Make a Difference in Caregiving?

This article analyzes cross-sectional data collected from a representative community sample of 1509 informal caregivers in the 1996 Family Caregiver Survey, which was conducted in the United States by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the American Association of Retired Persons. We examine the role of proximity between caregivers and their elders in different aspects of caregiving experiences including caring involvement, caregiving strain, work-related strain, and formal service utilization. It was found that caregivers sharing the same household with elderly care recipients reported higher levels of physical, emotional, and financial strain than other caregivers. Moreover, it was found that caregivers who lived within 20 minutes of travelling time, but not co-residing with the elderly care recipients, reported lower levels of work strain than other caregivers (including those who lived with care recipients). This differential impact remained even after controlling demographic characteristics of caregivers and caregiving involvement. The effect of proximity had no impact in the total number for formal service utilization.

Psychological and emotional factors of work experience as an issue for occupational medicine practice in the hospital

The consideration of psychomental and psychological load of employees is not part of the traditional working sphere of occupational physicians. Medical diagnostics and check-up are still regarded as the primary area of responsibility. This fact might be seen as a drawback with regard to the increasing importance of work-related psychomental load on the one hand and the actual requirements for high-quality occupational medicine on the other. The goal of a study in 64 occupational physicians in hospitals was to find out how occupational physicians estimate their own competence for dealing with psychomental problems of their clients, whether employees trust them, and which personal attitudes can be found towards the importance of work-related psychomental strain. The self-estimation of personal competence was--in contradiction to the results of former studies focusing on employees' views--surprisingly positive. A significant influence is the amount of work within the health-care sector compared to others. This might be interpreted as a selective effect and leads to the need for large-scale studies. Agreement could be found concerning the lack of chances for qualification in this sphere. Hence, further education and training in professional work with psychomental problems at the workplace has to be extended.

Prospective relationships between drug problems and work adjustment in a community sample of adults.

The prospective relationships between drug problems and work adjustment (e.g., job instability, job satisfaction) were examined in a community sample of 470 adults. Polydrug problems (alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine problem drug use) were both predictors and consequences of work adjustment. In partial support of the impaired functioning theory, polydrug problems predicted reduced job satisfaction 4 years later. Supporting the work-related strain theory, early job instability predicted polydrug problems 4 years later. In support of the theory of general deviance, low social conformity predicted later job instability. Finally, supporting social support theory, early support for drug problems reduced polydrug problems and increased job satisfaction 4 years later.

Sensation Seeking as It Relates to Burnout Among Emergency Medical Personnel: A Texas Study

Burnout among emergency medical personnel (EMP) is suspected, but largely unsupported in the literature. An investigation of the phenomenon of burnout and factors contributing to its existence are essential steps in designing effective interventions. Three research questions were proposed: 1) Are EMP sensation seekers as measured by Arnett's Inventory of Sensation Seeking? 2) Are EMP burnt out as measured by Revicki's Work-Related Strain Inventory? 3) Is there a relationship between sensation seeking and burnout among EMP? Emergency medical personnel attending a statewide conference in Texas, USA in late 1996 completed 425 survey instruments measuring sensation seeking and burnout as well as demographic items. Survey instruments were included in each registrant's conference package. Completed surveys were deposited anonymously in labeled receptacles throughout the statewide conference site. Data collection ceased at the end of the conference. EMP had significantly higher sensation-seeking total and intensity subscale scores than the general public. Full-time employees reported more sensation-seeking than volunteers or part-time employees. The younger the EMP, the greater were their reported sensation seeking tendencies. EMP reported more burnout in 1996 than in 1991. The older the EMP, the lower was the reported level of burnout. EMP who sought counseling for a work-related event reported more burnout than those who did not. Paid full-time EMP reported higher burnout than did volunteers. There was a weak but positive correlation between sensation seeking and burnout, suggesting that these two dimensions may be unrelated. The field of emergency medical services attracts sensation seekers, and EMP today report more burnout than their counterparts did in 1991. Although EMP appear to be high in sensation seeking, this dimension alone does not protect them from the effects of burnout.

Occupationally Oriented Medical Rehabilitation and Hairdressers’ Work Techniques–A one-and-a-half-year follow-up

This study examined changes in work techniques and musculoskeletal symptoms after occupationally oriented medical rehabilitation arranged for 21 hairdressers who were experiencing neck-shoulder or back pain but were still able to work. OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysing System) analyses of working postures and questionnaire data were obtained at the beginning of the courses and one and a half years later. The participants worked with their back bent and twisted or their arms at or over shoulder level more seldom (p < .0001) at the end of the follow-up than at the beginning of the rehabilitation. Subjective work-related physical and mental strain had decreased by 45.4% (p < .001) and 27.1% (p < .05), respectively, and subjective neck and back pain by 40.0% (p < .0 1 ) and 45.3% (p < .01). respectively. This’study suggests that occupationally oriented medical rehabilitation can have significant and long-lasting effects on the rehabilitee’s work techniques and subjective well-being.

Ergonomics Program Development: Prevention in the Workplace

An ergonomics program is discussed in which prevention of work-related repetitive strain injuries is the primary focus. The hazard assessment component of the program consists of review of injury/illness records by department and location, work site surveys with risk factor observation, and a survey of workers for evidence of risk-related tasks and recommendations for correctives. Tasks are prioritized according to degree of hazard, and alternative interventions are developed for each task. Elements of interventions can include a corrective action team; an ergonomic specialist team; training; exercises; and equipment, process, design, and engineering changes. This approach has resulted in a significant reduction in repetitive strain injury severity.

A critical incident analysis of stress-coping behaviours at work

Several instruments have been developed to assess coping strategies used by individuals during stressful transactions, but many of these focus on global styles of coping, rather than the specific behaviours which individuals engage in. Also, coping measures often do not link coping responses with specific stressors, nor do they gauge the outcomes of different actions taken by an individual experiencing strain. This article explores the use of critical incident analysis (CIA) to identify stress-coping behaviours. CIA focuses on three components of a stressful transaction: the stressor(s), the behavioural responses of the individual and the consequences of those responses. While some previous studies have utilized this technique, the present research examined these three components concurrently, in the arena of work-related strain. Advantages and limitations of CIA for exploring coping with job stress are highlighted.

Nurses' satisfaction with nursing care and work at three care units for severely demented people.

The aim of this study is to investigate the degree of job satisfaction, burnout and strain among nurses (n = 134) working in three care units for demented people in southern Sweden. Three questionnaires were used: the Maslach burnout inventory (MBI), the work-related strain inventory (WRSI), and a recently developed measure for assessing job satisfaction. Based on principal component analysis, an eight-factor job satisfaction scale was chosen. Nurses in general were found to be satisfied, with registered nurses (RNs) being most satisfied with their work and the nursing care provided. The nurses in one of the care units were more satisfied than the nurses on the other two. The MBI and WRSI results showed a low degree of burnout and work-related strain and there was little difference between the care units or the categories of nurses. Job satisfaction scores were relatively independent from the MBI and WRSI scores. However, scores from these two inventories of burnout and strain at work were positively correlated. The results of the questionnaires seem to indicate that positive work experience and negative experience are not opposites. This particular method of evaluating job satisfaction needs further development. However, it seems important to include one specific measure for job satisfaction when action is taken in connection with the working situation of nurses.

Impact of regular relaxation training on the cardiac autonomic nervous system of hospital cleaners and bank employees.

The work-related strain of 50 female hospital cleaners and 48 female bank employees was recorded during a period of rationalization in the workplace, and the effect of daily relaxation to help the workers cope was tested. The subjects were arranged into age-matched pairs and randomly allocated into intervention and reference groups. The intervention period lasted six months. The relaxation method was brief and easily introduced as an alternative break in the workplace. Each training session lasted 15 min. A microcomputer-based system was used to record heart rate variability in response to quiet breathing, the Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, and active orthostatic tests. Cardiac reflexes indicated that occupational strain (especially of a mental nature) caused the functioning of the autonomic nervous system to deteriorate. Regular deep relaxation normalized the function and improved the ability to cope.

Social support, occupational stress and anxiety

Abstract When occupational stressors, that is stress-producing environmental circumstances (SPECs) in the workplace, lead to anxiety, this anxiety is considered work-related strain. Social support is frequently recommended as a treatment of such strain, because it is expected to help in one of three ways: by directly reducing the anxiety, by interacting with SPECs to reduce the strength of their effects on anxiety, and by weakening the strength of the SPECs themselves. Future research on anxiety and social support in conjunction with work-related SPECs could shed new light on the relations among these three, variables by employing one or more of three approaches: designing investigations that allow stronger causal inference, testing hypotheses derived from theory, and examining potential cross-cultural differences in the nature of and reactions to social support.

A study of occupational stress and depression among emergency physicians

To determine the level of stress and depression among emergency physicians and whether these variables were related to the emergency physician's decision to leave the specialty. STUDY DESIGN AND TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: The study involved a random sample of 1,350 emergency physicians who received a questionnaire containing scales on depression and occupational stress as well as questions about their future plans for remaining in the specialty. Seven hundred sixty-three usable surveys (56.5%) were returned. Mean scores for the locus of control, Work-Related Strain Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) were within normal ranges. However, a disproportionate number, ie, more than 2.5% of the sample, scored more than two standard deviations from the mean. With the exception of the work satisfaction scale, there were no significant differences between the scores of fellows and nonfellows on measures of locus of control, stress, or depression. Of the population, 12.4% indicated that they were somewhat likely to very likely to leave the clinical practice of emergency medicine within the next year; 26.7% planned on leaving in the next five years, and less than half (42.9%) planned on seeing patients ten years from now. Older men, women, and those with high levels of stress and low job satisfaction were more likely to leave the specialty over the next ten years. While the vast majority of emergency physicians reported normal levels of stress, a disproportionate number reported high levels of stress and depression and plan on leaving the specialty of emergency medicine. The number of individuals planning to leave appeared to be greater than the number that will be replaced through residency training.

Perceptions of Emotional Support, Stress, and Strain Among African-American Human Service Workers

This study explored what emotional supports were available and helpful to African-American human service workers who remained in their jobs while negative external forces impinged upon them. The authors explored the nature and substance of the worker's support mechanisms and if and how these support systems impacted on their satisfaction with their jobs, their intent to remain on their present jobs, and their feelings of being burned-out. The study also examined the relationship of emotional support to work-related stress and strain among African-American social workers. The results indicate that promotion, challenge, role conflict, supervisor support, co-worker support, family support, and professional collegial support are significant predictors of job satisfaction. There was no evidence for the buffering effects of support.

Reliability and Validity of the Work-Related Strain Inventory among Health Professionals

This article provides evidence from five samples of different health professionals (family physicians, emergency medical technicians, hospital nurses, flight nurses, and emergency medicine residents) for the reliability and validity of the Work-Related Strain Inventory (WRSI). The inventory consists of 18 items and was designed to measure perceptions of strain in occupational settings. Internal consistency reliability ranged from .85 to .90 and, as predicted, was correlated with the Maslach Burnout Inventory and measures of depression, role ambiguity, job satisfaction, and work-group functioning. When compared with different measures of depression symptoms (eg, Zung Self-Rating of Depression Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), the Work-Related Strain Inventory was found to measure a different and independent construct. This inventory, a short, easily administered measure with good reliability, may be useful for appraising levels of work-related strain in behavioral and organizational models of the consequences of stress in different work environments.

Emotional Exhaustion in a High Stress Organization.

This study develops the concept of emotional exhaustion, an extremely affective and chronic type of work-related strain. Sources of emotional exhaustion were investigated in a police organization t...