Mental health and satisfaction among tax officers

Association Between Presenteeism/Absenteeism and Well-being Among Korean Workers

OBJECTIVE

Absenteeism and presenteeism refer to loss in productivity related to sick leave and illness, respectively, which affect physical and mental health. We examined the association between presenteeism/absenteeism and level of well-being among Korean workers.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 44,019 participants who completed the 2017 Korean Working Conditions Survey. The World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to screen the well-being level. We examined the association between presenteeism/absenteeism and level of well-being using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

WHO-5 scores were lower among workers who experienced presenteeism or absenteeism than those who experienced neither (presenteeism: β = -1.011, P < 0.0001, absenteeism: β = -0.403, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Presenteeism and absenteeism were associated with lower level of well-being. We suggest that their management is important for maintaining the health of Koreans.

Job Stress and Health of Elementary and Secondary School Educators in the United States

Elementary and secondary school educators face many work stressors, which appear to be increasing due to economic, political, and social trends. Therefore, we analyzed data from a 2017 national American Federation of Teachers survey of U.S. education staff, including data from two New York School districts that have adopted collaborative labor-management practices. The national American Federation of Teachers sample of educators reported significantly higher prevalences of several work stressors and poorer physical and mental health compared to the U.S. workers overall, adjusted for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Compared with educators nationally, educators in districts with collaborative labor-management practices did not have a consistently higher or lower prevalence of work stressors or poorer health. Findings suggest the importance of reducing work stressors among U.S. educators. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the low educator survey response rate.

The Implications of Positive Psychological Capital on Employee Absenteeism

Drawing from positive psychology and positive organizational behavior (Luthans, 2002a, 2002b) this study utilized a field study in a high tech manufacturing firm to demonstrate how positive psychological capital reduces levels of both involuntary and voluntary absenteeism. Previous studies setting out to determine job attitude antecedents of absenteeism have been generally disappointing and account for only small levels of variance. In addition, with few exceptions conceptualization of absenteeism has been uni-dimensional despite calls by previous researchers to consider the significant differences in semantic networks of voluntary and involuntary absenteeism as separate metrics. We make this dual dimension distinction and show how previous antecedents of absenteeism contribute to one dimension more than the other. The utility of the study findings conclude the article.

Self-Engagement, Stressors, and Health: A Longitudinal Study

The authors examined whether engagement in a performance domain could buffer or exacerbate the consequences of different stressors. Soldiers completed measures of engagement in work, work demands (days training, work hours, and subjective work overload), and symptoms at two time periods. Engagement in work interacted with days training and work hours at Time 1 to predict health symptoms at Time 2 (after controlling Time 1 outcomes). Soldiers highly engaged in their jobs were less likely to report negative consequences under high levels of training/work hours in comparison to soldiers disengaged from their jobs. However, engagement in work interacted with work overload in the opposite manner, with high levels of engagement potentiating the relationship between overload and reports of health symptoms. Engagement in a domain appears to buffer individuals from stressors that do not undermine performance but may exacerbate the impact of stressors that compromise performing well in the domain.

A four-year follow-up study of physical working conditions and perceived mental and physical strain among food industry workers

This study hypothesized that in a longitudinal setting deteriorating physical working conditions increases the perceived physical and mental strain among food processing employees. The study was conducted in 2003 and 2007. It examined 248 blue-collar workers, all of whom were in the same occupation throughout the entire follow-up period. The data were obtained through a structural questionnaire distributed to the employees at the workplace. Mental strain had increased (7%) significantly among younger employees during the follow-up. The changes in mental strain for the younger employees were positively associated with the changes in physical strain. The changes in physical strain were also significantly associated with the changes in physical working conditions among both younger and the older workers. The results of this study partly support the study hypothesis, namely that deteriorating physical working condition increases physical strain and also increases mental strain, especially among younger employees.

The effects of lifestyle and type a behavior on the life-stress process

To evaluate the effects of personal factors such as lifestyle and Thpe A behavior on the life-stress process, we analyzed data randomly collected from 428 metropolitan Tokyo residents. Path analysis techniques were implemented to examine the direct and indirect effects of lifestyle and the Type A behavior pattern between life events, subjective stress and depressive symptoms. The following results were obtained: 1. Persons with a healthy lifestyle perceived a lower subjective stress level. 2. Although females with a healthy lifestyle had fewer direct depressive symptoms, males with a healthy lifestyle had fewer indirect depressive symptoms due to alleviation of subjective stress. 3. Type A males perceived a lower subjective stress level and Type A females experienced more life events. It is suggested that mental health is modified not only by lifestyle but also by Type A behavior in the life-stress process. In particular, the preservation and promotion of a healthy lifestyle appear to reduce subjective stress and may be an important factor for the improvement of mental ill health.

A descriptive study on immigrant workers in the elderly care sector

The present descriptive study seeks to explore the differences in terms of psychosocial work characteristics and health & well-being indicators among Danes, Western and Non-western immigrants working in the elderly care sector; and to identify differences in the association patterns between these psychosocial work characteristics and health & well-being across these three groups. The study was based on a large-scale survey of the elderly care sector in Denmark with 78% response rate. Results show that Non-western immigrants had more depression symptoms, poorer quality of sleep and more client-related burnout than their Western immigrants and Danish colleagues. All in all, the associations between psychosocial work characteristics and health and well-being were much stronger among Danes than among immigrant workers and particularly weak among Non-western immigrants.

Benchmark duration of work hours for development of fatigue symptoms in Japanese workers with adjustment for job-related stress

The objective of this study was to calculate benchmark durations and lower 95% confidence limits for benchmark durations of working hours associated with subjective fatigue symptoms by applying the benchmark dose approach while adjusting for job-related stress using multiple logistic regression analyses. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 3,069 male and 412 female daytime workers (age 18-67 years) in a Japanese steel company. The eight dependent variables in the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index were decreased vitality, general fatigue, physical disorders, irritability, decreased willingness to work, anxiety, depressive feelings, and chronic tiredness. Independent variables were daily working hours, four subscales (job demand, job control, interpersonal relationship, and job suitability) of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, and other potential covariates. Using significant parameters for working hours and those for other covariates, the benchmark durations of working hours were calculated for the corresponding Index property. Benchmark response was set at 5% or 10%. Assuming a condition of worst job stress, the benchmark duration/lower 95% confidence limit for benchmark duration of working hours per day with a benchmark response of 5% or 10% were 10.0/9.4 or 11.7/10.7 (irritability) and 9.2/8.9 or 10.4/9.8 (chronic tiredness) in men and 8.9/8.4 or 9.8/8.9 (chronic tiredness) in women. The threshold amounts of working hours for fatigue symptoms under the worst job-related stress were very close to the standard daily working hours in Japan. The results strongly suggest that special attention should be paid to employees whose working hours exceed threshold amounts based on individual levels of job-related stress.

Relationship between behavioral lifestyle and mental health status evaluated using the GHQ-28 and SDS questionnaires in Japanese factory workers

In order to clarify the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and mental health status in Japanese workers, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were administered to 254 male factory workers; further, eight of their personal health practices were surveyed using the Health Practice Index (HPI). Few studies have used the GHQ-28 and SDS simultaneously; moreover, to date, no study has included the lifestyle factors in these scales. We used these tools for the concurrent assessment of mental health status and classified the subjects into high-risk and low-risk groups. The GHQ-28 and SDS scores correlated negatively with the HPI scores. In the older age group, these scores decreased significantly corresponding to an increase in the total number of favorable lifestyle practices followed. Significant relationships were observed between the GHQ-28 subscales and the HPI. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that four of the eight health practices surveyed were significantly related to the mental health status in all subjects. Thus, good health practices appear to be closely associated with good mental health status. However, to establish our results, larger study populations are required for further studies in various occupational fields.

Estimation of the number of working hours critical for the development of mental and physical fatigue symptoms in Japanese male workers - application of benchmark dose method

BACKGROUND

To clarify the influence of working hours on subjective fatigue symptoms and obtain the critical dose (number of hours) to determine the number of permissible working hours, we calculated the benchmark dose (BMD) and the 95% lower confidence limit on BMD (BMDL) of working hours for subjective mental and fatigue symptoms using multivariate logistic regression.

METHODS

Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all 843 male daytime workers aged < or = 60 years in a single chemical factory, and 715 provided complete replies. The odds ratios of daily working hours were determined using positive findings of the Self-rating Depression Scale and 8 subscales of the Cumulative Fatigue Symptom Index as dependent variables, and other potential covariates as independent variables. Using significant parameters for the working hours and those for other covariates, the BMD and BMDL (BMD/BMDL) values were calculated for corresponding dependent variables. The benchmark response (BMR) was set at 5% or 10%.

RESULTS

The BMDL with a BMR of 5% was shown to be 9.6-11.6 hr per day, which corresponds to 48-58 working hours per week and 36-78 overtime hours per month.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that special attention should be paid to the workers whose working hours exceed these BMD/BMDL values.

Benchmark Dose of Working Hours in Relation to Subjective Fatigue Symptoms in Japanese Male Workers

PURPOSE

We used a multiple logistic regression model to calculate benchmark doses (BMDs) and their 95% lower confidence bound (BMDL) of working hours for subjective fatigue symptoms.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in 3069 male daytime workers between the ages of 18 and 60 years who worked in a Japanese steel company. Dependent variables were positive findings for eight properties by using the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index (CFSI): decreased vitality, general fatigue, physical disorders, irritability, decreased willingness to work, anxiety, depressive feelings, and chronic tiredness. Independent variables were daily working hours, age, lifestyle factors, working conditions (type of work and number of holidays), marital status, and living arrangements. Using significant parameters for working hours and those for other covariates, BMD/BMDL of working hours was calculated for the corresponding property of the CFSI. Additionally, benchmark response (BMR) was set at 5% or 10%.

RESULTS

The BMD/BMDL of working hours per day with a BMR of 5% were 11.8/10.8 (irritability), 11.4/10.2 (anxiety), and 11.2/10.6 (chronic tiredness), and those with a BMR of 10% were 14.2/12.6 (irritability), 14.2/12.1 (anxiety), and 13.1/12.2 (chronic tiredness).

CONCLUSIONS

These results strongly suggest that special attention should be given to workers whose working hours exceed these BMD/BMDL values.

Long working hours and risk for hypertension in Japanese male white collar workers

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of long working hours with the risk for hypertension.

DESIGN

A five year prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Work site in Osaka, Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

941 hypertension free Japanese male white collar workers aged 35-54 years were prospectively examined by serial annual health examinations. Men in whom borderline hypertension and hypertension were found during repeated surveys were defined as incidental cases of borderline hypertension and hypertension.

MAIN RESULTS

336 and 88 men developed hypertension above the borderline level and definite hypertension during the 3940 and 4531 person years, respectively. After controlling for potential predictors of hypertension, the relative risk for hypertension above the borderline level, compared with those who worked < 8.0 hours per day, was 0.63 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.43, 0.91) for those who worked 10.0-10.9 hours per day and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.74) for those who worked > or = 11.0 hours per day. The relative risk for definite hypertension, compared with those who worked < 8.0 hours per day, was 0.33 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.95) for those who worked > or = 11.0 hours per day. The multivariate adjusted slopes of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) during five years of follow up decreased as working hours per day increased. From the multiple regression analyses, working hours per day remained as an independent negative factor for the slopes of systolic blood pressure, DBP, and MABP.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that long working hours are negatively associated with the risk for hypertension in Japanese male white collar workers.

Lifestyle and the development of dyslipidemia: a 4-year follow-up study of middle-aged Japanese Male Office Workers

To examine the lifestyle factors related to the development of dyslipidemia [low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ≥ 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 40 mg/dL, or triglyceride ≥ 250 mg/dL], 979 dyslipidemia-free Japanese male office workers aged 35 to 54 years were followed up for four years. The numbers of new incidence cases during the follow-up period were 216 for high LDL cholesterol level, 109 for low HDL cholesterol level, and 78 for high triglyceride level. From the Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the incidence of high LDL cholesterol level were 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.82] for consuming alcohol every day, 1.39 (95% CI: 1.10-1.77) for 5-kg/m(2) increase in body mass index (BMI), 1.45 (95% CI: 1.10-1.91) for snacking between meals every day, and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.18-2.30) for not eating vegetables every day. As for the incidence of low HDL cholesterol level, adjusted HRs for current cigarette smoking, consuming alcohol every day, and 5-kg/m(2) increase in BMI were 1.74 (95% CI: 1.17-2.59), 0.61 (95% CI: 0.41-0.89), and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.29-2.46), respectively. Adjusted HRs for the incidence of high triglyceride level were 1.73 (95% CI: 1.07-2.77) for current cigarette smoking, 1.74 (95% CI: 1.10-2.77) for 5-kg/m(2) increase in BMI, and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27-0.90) for working 10 h per day or more. These results suggest that an increase in BMI, current cigarette smoking, and snacking between meals every day is closely associated with an increased risk of atherogenic lipid profiles. On the other hand, alcohol consumption and eating vegetables every day may have an anti-atherogenic effect on serum lipid profiles.

Stress, mental health & job satisfaction among nurse managers

This study investigated sources of stress and their effects on mental health and job satisfaction among nurse managers in the United States. One hundred and forty-four nurse managers completed questionnaires containing information concerning three kinds of variables: the degree of stress experienced at work, the personality of the individual, and characteristics of life situations away from work. It was found that in general the nurse managers were satisfied with their jobs, although they reported high stress on the job. They reported better mental health than normative groups. Using multivariate analysis, it was found that all three types of variables were necessary for prediction of mental health and job satisfaction. This finding supports the person-environment fit theory of occupational stress.

Investigating the frequency of nursing stressors: a comparison across wards

Intensive care unit stress has become an area of expanding enquiry. However the research evidence suggests that certain kinds of stressors are commonly encountered by all nurses irrespective of their nursing specialty. The frequency with which a range of stressors occurred in different wards was examined by using a nation-wide sample of 2500 New Zealand nurses. The results indicated that while intensive care-critical care wards were on average more likely to experience "difficulties involved in nursing the critically ill" than other wards, medical, continuing care and orthopaedic wards experienced in comparison more stressors more frequently. These results were discussed in terms of their implications for intervention and training.