Psychosocial Factors: Review of the Empirical Data Among Men

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker, Dean B. ; Belkic K ; Karasek R ; Landsbergis P ; Peter R ; Schnall P ; Siegrist J ; Theorell T
• Description:
  In 1958, a case-control study by Russek and Zohman revealed that of 97 male coronary patients under age 40, 91% were judged to have been exposed to "occupational stress and strain," based on a detailed occupational history, compared to 20% of healthy controls. In the same year, Friedman, Rosenman and Carroll published their seminal paper demonstrating a significant relation between serum cholesterol and blood clotting times, and cyclic variation in occupational stress among accountants. Since these early studies there has been a burgeoning body of evidence demonstrating a relationship between psychosocial factors at the workplace and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Approximately 20 years ago, the Job Strain Model was introduced by Karasek. Systematic investigation of psychosocial workplace factors and CVD was dramatically advanced by this model, which can be readily applied in epidemiologic studies. The first hypothesis is that strain occurs when there is excessive psychological workload demands together with low job decision latitude. This combination provokes arousal, as well as distress, activating both the sympathoadreaomedullary and adrenocortical axes, and yielding a highly deleterious combination. A third dimension, social isolation, was later added to the Job Strain Model. The second hypothesis is that high demands together with high decision latitude lead to active learning of new behaviors, and possibly improved health through long-term positive changes in coping behaviors. (See Chapter 3 for a detailed discussion of the theoretical construct.) More recently, the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Model was introduced by Siegrist and colleagues. In comparison to the Job Strain Model with its emphasis on moment-to-moment control over the work process (i.e., decision latitude), the ERI Model provides an expanded concept of control, emphasizing macro-level long-term control vis-a-vis rewards such as career opportunities, job security, esteem, and income. The ERI Model assesses the balance between these rewards and effort, positing that work stress results from an imbalance between high effort and low control over long-term rewards. Effort is seen to stem both extrinsically from the demands of the job and intrinsically from the individual's tendency to be overly committed to these work demands. (See Chapter 3 for further discussion.) In addition to research using these two models, several other psychosocial risk factors are being examined for their potential explanatory value with regard to CV outcomes. Threat-avoidant vigilant work, also termed "disaster potential," represents a plausible construct for which there is some empirical data, reviewed herein. The following review results from in extenso English language publications in peer-reviewed journals as these pertain to samples of men, in whom the majority of this research has been conducted. The empirical evidence with regard to workplace psychosocial factors and CVD outcomes among women is described toward the end of this chapter. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Epidemiology Men Occupational Health Safety Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Biological Effects Cardiovascular Disease Heart Disease Humans Job Stress Psychosocial Factors Worker Health
• ISSN:
  0885-114X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  24-46
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058192
• Citation:
  Occup Med: State of the Art Rev 2000 Jan-Mar; 15(1):24-46
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19990701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews
• End Date:
  20040630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bc8adfef94d37eaf06a3703a7c97f95e25cedcd9a04b479ccc379c08814d31ab9d8474c88cd3c48068b02375036b77e12ccb83e4220803beb1dc67c7bf73e18f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/221327/cdc_221327_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.03 MB ]