Effects of psychological hardiness, job demands, and job control on sickness absence: A prospective study.

This study prospectively investigated the effects of psychological hardiness, job control, and job demands on medically certified sickness absence. Data from a questionnaire survey were combined with archival data for sickness absence among 7,239 civilian and military employees of the Norwegian Armed Forces (84.3% male, 69.8% military). A 2-component hurdle regression was used in the statistical analyses of the sickness absence data. After controlling for age, sex, and baseline absence, hardiness predicted both the likelihood of having any sickness absence (odds ratio = 0.97) and the number of absence spells (a 6.5% decrease in the expected count for 1 standard deviation change in hardiness). In addition, an interaction was found among hardiness, job control, and psychological demands. When demands were high, high job control was associated with more absence among employees with low levels of hardiness. Together, these findings point to hardiness as an important individual resource in relation to health, and that it is necessary to consider individual differences when examining the effects of work characteristics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Work-related stress and psychological distress in emergency medical technicians.

Emergency medical technicians (n?=?65) participated in a study on work environment characteristics, work-related stress, and psychological distress. Data were collected at baseline and 6 months. Work-related stress was associated with lower work group support and poor supervisory behavior. Work-related stress was strongly related to psychological distress. Changes in work-related stress were significantly related to changes in psychological distress. Findings support the work-related stress, psychological distress model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teachers’ stressors and strains: A longitudinal study of their relationships.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 17(1) of International Journal of Stress Management (see record 2010-02418-002). In the article, “Teachers’ Stressors and Strains: A Longitudinal Study of Their Relationships” by Arie Shirom, Amalya Oliver, and Esther Stein (International Journal of Stress Management, 2009, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 312-332), the two co-authors’ affiliations were incorrectly listed. The co-authors’ correct affiliations are as follows: Amalya Oliver, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Esther Stein, Beit Berl Educational College.] The authors tested the hypothesized unidirectional or bidirectional effects of 5 types of teachers’ work-related stressors on each of the 4 types of psychological strain: somatic complaints, burnout, and intrinsic and extrinsic job dissatisfaction. The authors used structural regression analyses to analyze the responses of a representative sample of 404 high school teachers who had completed both our T1 (beginning of school year) and T2 (end of school year) questionnaires. The authors found support for the expected unidirectional effects of the T1 work-related stressors on the respondents’ T2 somatic complaints (with baseline somatic complaints controlled for), and also for the expected unidirectional effects of T1 intrinsic and extrinsic job dissatisfaction on the T2 values of the five types of stressors (with baseline stressors controlled for). Only partial support was found for the expected bidirectional relationships between the stressors and teachers’ burnout. The authors suggest that the directionality across time of the relationships between stressors and strains may depend on the intrinsic properties of the strain under consideration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Teachers’ stressors and strains: A longitudinal study of their relationships": Correction.

Reports an error in "Teachers’ stressors and strains: A longitudinal study of their relationships" by Arie Shirom, Amalya Oliver and Esther Stein (International Journal of Stress Management, 2009[Nov], Vol 16[4], 312-332). In the article, the two co-authors’ affiliations were incorrectly listed. The co-authors’ correct affiliations are as follows: Amalya Oliver, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Esther Stein, Beit Berl Educational College. They appear correctly in this record. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2009-21667-004.) The authors tested the hypothesized unidirectional or bidirectional effects of 5 types of teachers’ work-related stressors on each of the 4 types of psychological strain: somatic complaints, burnout, and intrinsic and extrinsic job dissatisfaction. The authors used structural regression analyses to analyze the responses of a representative sample of 404 high school teachers who had completed both our T1 (beginning of school year) and T2 (end of school year) questionnaires. The authors found support for the expected unidirectional effects of the T1 work-related stressors on the respondents’ T2 somatic complaints (with baseline somatic complaints controlled for), and also for the expected unidirectional effects of T1 intrinsic and extrinsic job dissatisfaction on the T2 values of the five types of stressors (with baseline stressors controlled for). Only partial support was found for the expected bidirectional relationships between the stressors and teachers’ burnout. The authors suggest that the directionality across time of the relationships between stressors and strains may depend on the intrinsic properties of the strain under consideration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do parents reinforce somatic complaints in their children?

Objective: To examine the influence of parental solicitousness on self-reported somatic complaints in school-age children. Design and Main Outcome Measures: Participants were 564 children (mean age 10 years) and their parents. Children completed self-report measures of somatic complaints, parental solicitousness, depressiveness, fear, and sense of coherence. Somatic complaints were assessed again 6 months later. Parents also completed a questionnaire about solicitousness. Results: Parental solicitousness as reported by children or parents was unrelated to the frequency of self-reported somatic complaints. Symptoms of depression, fear, and lower sense of coherence were associated with more somatic complaints, but did not interact with parental solicitousness. Conclusion: Parental solicitousness seems unrelated to more frequent somatic complaints in schoolchildren. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relative weight, smoking, and mental health as predictors of sickness and absence from work.

This article reports a longitudinal study of relative weight, smoking, and mental health as predictors of medically certified sickness and unauthorized absence from work among student nurses (N?=?185). Information about smoking, relative weight, and self-reports of somatic complaints and social dysfunction was obtained prior to the 33-month period over which sickness and absence were recorded. Multiple regression was used to test a predictive model relating absence to linear and quadratic components of relative weight, smoking, and symptom measures. A significant curvilinear relation between relative weight and absence was found, the form of which closely resembled the relation between relative weight and mortality; smoking showed an additive effect. A linear interaction between social dysfunction and relative weight was also found; particularly high levels of absence occurred among those of high relative weight who also reported high levels of social dysfunction. Analysis of sickness episodes confirmed the adverse effects of overweight and, to a lesser extent of underweight and smoking. The findings are discussed in terms of medical, psychological, and psychosocial influences on sickness and absenteeism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Worksite stress management training: Moderated effects and clinical significance.

Psychologically healthy participants may dilute the observed effects of worksite stress management training (SMT) programs, therefore hiding the true effectiveness of these interventions for more distressed workers. To examine this issue, 311 local government employees were randomly assigned to SMT based on acceptance and commitment therapy (SMT, n = 177) or to a waitlist control group (n = 134). The SMT program consisted of three half-day training sessions, and imparted a mixture of mindfulness and values-based action skills. Across a 6-month assessment period, SMT resulted in a significant reduction in employee distress. As predicted, the impact of SMT was significantly moderated by baseline distress, such that meaningful effects were found only among a subgroup of initially distressed workers. Furthermore, a majority (69%) of these initially distressed SMT participants improved to a clinically significant degree. The study highlights the importance of accounting for sample heterogeneity when evaluating and classifying worksite SMT programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do positive work-related states mediate the association between psychosocial work characteristics and turnover? A longitudinal analysis.

This study investigated whether positive work-related states—affective organizational commitment and experience of meaning at work—mediated the association between psychosocial work characteristics and turnover. A prospective cohort study was conducted among employees in eldercare services in Denmark. Employees no longer working in eldercare at follow-up were interviewed with questionnaires. Respondents to this questionnaire were coded as cases of turnover (n = 730) and were compared with employees who had not changed jobs during the follow-up period (n = 5,262). Data on positive work-related states and psychosocial work characteristics were measured at baseline in the cohort study. We used logistic regression analyses to investigate whether positive work-related states mediated the association between psychosocial work characteristics and turnover. Initial analyses showed that psychosocial work characteristics significantly predicted turnover. Subsequent analyses showed that affective organizational commitment and experience of meaning at work significantly reduced the risk of turnover, and the mediators attenuated the associations between psychosocial work characteristics and turnover. Accordingly, the results show that positive work-related states mediate the longitudinal association between psychosocial work characteristics and turnover. The results furthermore imply that turnover among staff in eldercare can be reduced by enhancing positive work-related states and improving the psychosocial work environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linear and nonlinear relations between psychosocial job characteristics, subjective outcomes, and sickness absence: Baseline results from SMASH.

This study investigates the demand-control-support (DCS) model by (a) using a more focused measure of job control, (b) testing for interactive and nonlinear relationships, and (c) further extending the model to the prediction of an objective outcome measure (i.e., company administrated sickness absence). Hypotheses were tested in a heterogeneous sample of 1,739 employees from a 3–year prospective cohort study called SMASH (Study on Musculoskeletal Disorders, Absenteeism, Stress, and Health). Baseline results showed that a linear additive model was superior for job satisfaction, psychosomatic health complaints, and sickness absence, whereas a curvilinear model was superior for emotional exhaustion and depression. It is concluded that, first, there was no evidence of interactive effects. Second, it seems sensible to pay more attention to curvilinear relationships in future research. Finally, the DCS model was not supported using a more objective outcome measure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Job stress in the Australian and international health and community services sector: A review of the literature.

We reviewed 25 international and 10 Australian studies published between 1999 and 2004 for evidence of individual and organizational impacts of stress in the health and community services (HCS) sector. Several HCS occupations showed high levels of distress compared to Australian population data. Results were consistent with the Job Demands-Resources model: High demands (e.g., workload, emotional) combined with low resources (e.g., control, rewards, support) were associated with adverse health (e.g., psychological, physical) and organizational impacts (e.g., reduced job satisfaction, sickness absence). Australian-specific issues included rural and remote work and the complex role of Aboriginal Health Workers. Strong associations between modifiable work factors and adverse outcomes provide a rationale for primary preventive policy development by occupational health and safety regulators and workers' compensation authorities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Study on musculoskeletal complaints involving the back, neck and upper limbs

OBJECTIVE & METHODS: A mail questionnaire survey was conducted among designated factory doctors (DFDs) to determine the nature and extent of musculoskeletal aches/pains in patients attending their clinics over one working week. Information was recorded for all patients aged 15 years and above presenting with aches or pains in the back, neck or upper limbs, as the main complaint or as one of the presenting symptoms. RESULTS: For the 155 doctors participating in the survey, the total attendance of patients aged 15 years and above during the study period was 35,010. Of these, 3.9% presented with the symptoms studied and 1.8% had work-related complaints. The commonest site affected was the back (55.7%), followed by the neck (21.4%) and shoulders (19.2%). A higher proportion of males than females had back complaints with the reverse for complaints involving hands/wrists and arms/forearms. 82.3% of the affected were employed, 60.3% being production workers, compared to 33.3% professional/office workers and 6.4% service workers. Of the patients who were working, 51.3% had work-related symptoms and 54.4% were given medical leave. Production workers had the highest proportion with work-related symptoms while service workers had the highest proportion given medical leave. The "medical certificate rate" was highest for back symptoms -57.6%, while work-related symptoms was highest for complaints involving hands/wrists. CONCLUSION: The study findings are consistent with those of a 1993 morbidity survey of outpatients in Singapore and indicate that the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal aches/pains is not high.     

The single-breath nitrogen test in coal miners: factors associated with failure to perform

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in a population of lock assemblers in the West Midlands; to follow one group over 12 months and to explore the relationship between survey data, sickness absence information and claims experience. An adapted Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to determine annual and weekly prevalence and annual disability rates for musculoskeletal complaints. There was no statistically significant difference in complaints between the six companies, apart from an increased reporting of neck (p < 0.001), upper back (p < 0.001) and hip (p < 0.05) symptoms at one company (Site 4) during the week prior to the study. When the study was repeated at Site 4 one year later, new employees had significantly fewer complaints of neck and elbow discomfort over the previous year and week, but no difference in wrist complaints was reported. This survey of lock assemblers has highlighted high levels of self-reported upper limb complaints when compared to other referent groups of workers.     

A comparison of exposure therapy, stress inoculation training, and their combination for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder in female assault victims.

Ninety-six female assault victims with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to 4 treatment conditions: prolonged exposure (PE), stress inoculation training (SIT), combined treatment (PE-SIT), or wait-list control (WL). Treatment consisted of 9 twice-weekly, individual sessions. Independent evaluations were conducted at pretreatment; posttreatment; and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. All 3 active treatments reduced severity of PTSD and depression compared with WL but did not differ significantly from each other, and these gains were maintained throughout the follow-up period. However, in the intent-to-treat sample, PE was superior to SIT and PE-SIT on posttreatment anxiety and global social adjustment at follow-up and had larger effect sizes on PTSD severity, depression, and anxiety. SIT and PE-SIT did not differ significantly from each other on any outcome measure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Separate and combined effects of a cognitive map and a symbolic code in the learning of a modeled social skill (job interviewing).

Evaluated the incremental effects of a cognitive map (CM) and a symbolic code (SC) treatment (separately and in combination) relative to a standard modeling treatment (SMT) that generated equivalent demand characteristics. SMT in turn was compared to a no-treatment control condition (NT). Simulated job interviews were conducted 3 wks after treatment with 55 undergraduates who had been assigned to 1 of 4 treatments or NT. The Job Interview Rating Scale, knowledge scores, and speaking time were included in the measures of interviewing proficiency. Significant gains were attributable to CM on 4 of 6 social skills criteria. The SC and combination (CM plus SC) treatments produced significant improvement on all dependent variables. Evidence favoring SMT over NT was weak. Cost–benefit implications for the theoretically derived CM and SC treatments are discussed. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological distress in workers with traumatic upper or lower limb amputations following industrial injuries.

Objective: To determine whether individuals with traumatic upper limb amputations would report more symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than individuals with traumatic lower limb amputations. Study Design: Retrospective file review. Setting: CARF-accredited outpatient rehabilitation center. Participants: Thirty workers with unilateral upper limb amputations and 25 workers with unilateral lower limb amputations. Main Outcome Measures: Presence or absence of depression, symptoms of PTSD, and pain. Results: The upper limb group had a higher frequency of depression and symptoms of PTSD than the lower limb group. The 2 groups did not differ with respect to pain complaints. Conclusion: More so than injuries to the lower limbs, upper limb injuries may render individuals vulnerable to PTSD and depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dyspepsia in relation to Helicobacter pylori infection and psychosocial work stress in white collar employees

OBJECTIVE: We undertook an investigation of the relationship between psychosocial work stress and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with dyspepsia. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 189 employees of a health insurance company in the city of Ulm, Germany. RESULTS: A clear association between work-related psychosocial factors and the occurrence of dyspeptic symptoms during the past 3 months was evident. Persons who were considered to have a critical style of coping with work demands suffered more often from dyspeptic symptoms. Current infection with H. pylori was not associated with prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms. These results were also confirmed by adjustment for age, gender, smoking status, education, and use of antiinflammatory drugs within the past 3 months, by means of multivariate analysis. The odds ratio (OR) for having a dyspepsia symptom score in the upper tertile versus the 1st or 2nd was 3.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-6.65), given that the employee was considered to have a critical style of coping with work demands. The OR for having a dyspepsia symptom score in the upper tertile given H. pylori infection was 1.23 (95% CI, 0.44-3.46), indicating no association of current H. pylori infection with dyspeptic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A critical style of coping with work demands may be an important determinant for dyspepsia-like symptoms. Therefore, in the absence of an underlying disease, specific intervention programs should be targeted at the behavior of the affected individual (e.g., stress-reduction programs) rather than on the treatment of specific symptoms or infection with H. pylori.     

The two-factor structure of sleep complaints and its relation to depression and anxiety.

Although sleep complaints are common in depression and anxiety, there is little agreement as to how they should be organized and assessed. It is also unclear whether sleep complaints show specificity with certain disorders or whether they are nonspecific symptoms. The authors examined the structure of sleep complaints and the relations of these complaints to depression and anxiety in 3 samples: college students, older adults, and psychiatric patients. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that sleep complaints consistently defined 2 distinct dimensions: Insomnia and Lassitude. The Insomnia factor included indicators of early, middle, and late insomnia, as well as poor sleep quality. The Lassitude factor included measures of hypersomnia, fatigue, and sleepiness. Both factors were significantly related to symptoms and diagnoses of depression and anxiety. However, Lassitude was more strongly related to symptoms of depression and anxiety than was Insomnia. In addition, Lassitude showed specificity to measures and diagnoses of depression compared with anxiety disorders. This specificity can be explained by Lassitude's relation with negative and positive emotionality, both of which are components of depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress at work and psychosomatic complaints: A causal interpretation.

Examined the correlation between stress at work and psychosomatic complaints in 3 studies involving 1,047 German male blue-collar workers from 10 factories. In Study 1, 206 Ss were interviewed to measure psychological stress at work, psychosomatic complaints, and possible 3rd variables (e.g., job insecurity, leisure-time stress, lack of support from wife, political exaggeration, SES, and overrating or underrating stress at work). Ss represented 3–4 workers at each work place observed. In Study 2, 841 Ss were interviewed and 407 work places were observed. In Study 3, 90 Ss from Study 2 were reinterviewed and their work places reobserved. Results show that the correlation between physical stress and psychosomatic complaints can be explained by some 3rd variable, while the correlation between psychological stress and psychosomatic complaints cannot be explained by any of the alternative hypotheses. Objective conditions of work stress influenced the development of subjective stress and psychosomatic complaints. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)