Effect of Changing Work Stressors and Coping Resources on the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: The OHSPIW Cohort Study

Classification and identification of risk factors for type 2 diabetes

The risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been increasingly researched, but the lack of systematic identification and categorization makes it difficult for clinicians to quickly and accurately access and understand all the risk factors, which are categorized in this paper into five categories: Social determinants, lifestyle, checkable/testable risk factors, history of illness and medication, and other factors, which are discussed in a narrative review. Meanwhile, this paper points out the problems of the current research, helps to improve the systematic categorisation and practicality of T2DM risk factors, and provides a professional research basis for clinical practice and industry decision-making.

Experiences of living with overweight/obesity and early type 2 diabetes in Singapore-a qualitative interview study

OBJECTIVES

To understand the lived experience of adults with overweight/obesity and early type 2 diabetes in a modern urban environment, and the interrelations among the various aspects of these experiences and participants' attitudes to weight management.

DESIGN

Qualitative inductive approach to analysing data thematically from semistructured interviews and interpreted from a socioecological perspective.

SETTING

Primary care clinics located in northern and central Singapore.

PARTICIPANTS

21 patients between 29 and 59 years old who are living with overweight/obese (Body Mass Index of 25.3-44.0kg/m2) and type 2 diabetes for 6 years or less.

RESULTS

The main themes - everyday life, people around me and within me - pointed to a combination of barriers to weight and health management for participants. These included environmental factors such as easy physical and digital access to unhealthy food, and high-stress work environments; social factors such as ambiguous family support and dietary practices of peers; and individual factors such as challenges with self-regulation, prioritising work, dealing with co-existing medical conditions and the emotional significance of food. While lack of motivation and cultural dietary practices are hard to change, a problem-solving attitude, and presence of role models, may enable behaviour change.

CONCLUSION

An exploration of the lifeworld of patients with overweight/obese and early type 2 diabetes revealed that work demands, dietary practices in the workplace and at home, and the easy availability of calorie-dense foods afforded by a technology-infused environment hindered the individual's efforts at maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. Policy and initiatives promoting work-life balance as well as individualised interventions can support participants' stress management, and problem-solving capability for behaviour change. These barriers stemmed from the various domains of the environmental, interpersonal and intrapersonal but were interrelated. They underscored the need for an integrated approach to weight and diabetes management.

Occupational Disease in New York State: An Update

An assessment of occupational disease in New York State was undertaken that partially replicated and expanded earlier work from 1987. Utilizing an expanded conception of occupational disease, the assessment used a variety of data sources and methods to provide estimates of mortality and morbidity of occupational disease; workers exposed to specific workplace hazards; disparities in occupational disease among racial/ethnic groups and gender; costs and distribution of costs of occupational disease; and accessible occupational medical resources. Examples of the pathways work may impact health in some of the major health issues of current import including stress-related health conditions; substance use; and overweight/obesity were included. The report contains recommendations for addressing the problem of occupational disease in New York State and advocates for the convening of a statewide group to develop an occupational disease prevention agenda.

Support Needs and Coping Strategies in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Multidisciplinary Approach to Potential Unmet Challenges beyond Pharmacological Treatment

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequently occurring chronic liver disease, affecting approximately 25–30% of the adult general population worldwide. NAFLD reflects excess hepatic accumulation of fat in the absence of increased alcohol intake, and, due to its close association with obesity, is frequently referred to as the ‘hepatic manifestation’ of metabolic syndrome. Indeed, a high percentage of individuals with NAFLD present with a combination of the cardio-metabolic comorbidities that are associated with the metabolic syndrome. In addition to its well-established link with the metabolic syndrome and increased risk for cardiovascular disease, NAFLD has also been associated with certain mental health issues (e.g., depression and stress). Although this link is now being increasingly recognized, there are still unmet needs regarding the holistic management of patients with NAFLD, which could further contribute to feelings of social isolation and loneliness. The latter conditions are also increasingly reported to pose a substantial risk to overall health and quality of life. To date, there is limited research that has explored these issues among patients with NAFLD, despite existing data which indicate that perceived loneliness and isolation may pose an additional health risk. Notably, many features associated with NAFLD have been related to these concepts, such as perceived stigma, fatigue, stress, and confusion regarding this diagnosis. As such, this review aimed to assess such potential problems faced by patients with NAFLD, and to explore the possibility of unmet support needs which could lead to perceived social isolation. Moreover, the importance of a compassionate approach towards such patients is discussed, together with potential coping strategies. Future research directions and the need for a multidisciplinary approach are also highlighted.

Psychological burden predicts new-onset diabetes in men: A longitudinal observational study in the Fukushima Health Management Survey after the Great East Japan earthquake

BACKGROUND

The burden of psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been suggested as a factor in developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, longitudinal features in psychological distress- and PTSD-related new-onset diabetes mellitus have not been thoroughly evaluated.

METHODS

The association between probable depression and probable PTSD and the risk of developing new-onset diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a 7-year prospective cohort of evacuees of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Probable depression was defined as a Kessler 6 scale (K6) ≥ 13 and probable PTSD as a PTSD Checklist-Stressor-Specific Version (PCL-S) ≥ 44.

RESULTS

The log-rank test for the Kaplan-Meier curve for new-onset diabetes mellitus was significant between K6 ≥ 13 vs. < 13 and PCL-S ≥ 44 vs. < 44 in men but not in women. In men, both K6 ≥ 13 and PCL-S ≥ 44 remained significant in the Cox proportional hazards model after multivariate adjustment for established risk factors and disaster-related factors, including evacuation, change in work situation, sleep dissatisfaction, and education.

CONCLUSION

The post-disaster psychological burden of probable depression and probable PTSD was related to new-onset diabetes in men but not in women. In post-disaster circumstances, prevention strategies for new-onset diabetes might consider sex differences in terms of psychological burden.

The Influence of Changes in Work Stressors and Coping Resources on Sleep Disturbances: Evidence from the OHSPIW Cohort Study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We investigated whether changes in psychosocial work conditions affect the risk of sleep disturbances.

METHODS

Data pertaining to 2738 males and 1431 females were obtained from the Occupational Health Study of Petroleum Industry Workers (OHSPIW), a prospective cohort study of Chinese petroleum industry workers. The subjects were assessed with regard to work-related stressors, coping resources and sleep disturbances at baseline (2012) and follow-up (2018). The variations in work stressors and coping resources, which were assessed using the Occupation Stress Inventory-Reviewed (OSI-R), were calculated. Sleep disturbances were evaluated with the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

Increased work stressors (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.24-1.99) and decreased coping resources (OR=2.03, 95% CI=1.48-2.78) were correlated with the likelihood of sleep disturbances in male and female workers. The primary risk factors included high role overload, increased responsibility, enhanced physical environment stressors, reduced self-care, and reduced rational coping. A reduction in work stressors was a protective factor against sleep disturbances in females only (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.45-0.88). Coping resources had a modifying effect on the relationship between increased work stressors and sleep disturbances, with increased coping resources being associated with a lower odds of increased works stressors on sleep disturbances (OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.01-1.66) than decreased coping resources (OR=3.60, 95%CI=1.10-11.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in work stressors and coping resources have a significant influence on the risk of sleep disturbances. Our findings highlight important precautionary strategies to abate adverse psychosocial working environments and to strengthen coping resources to prevent work-related sleep disturbances.

Interventions for the prevention of risk factors and incidence of type 2 diabetes in the work environment: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at the prevention of risk factors and incidence of type 2 diabetes in the workers population.

METHODS

Systematic review of interventions aimed at adult workers at risk of type 2 diabetes published in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Central Cochrane Registry of Controlled Trials, and Lilacs. Randomized trials, quasi-experimental research and cohort studies were selected; in English, Spanish and Portuguese; published from 2000 to 2017. Intervention effectiveness was evaluated concerning the incidence of type 2 diabetes and a significant reduction in body weight, or another anthropometric or metabolic parameter.

RESULTS

3,024 articles were generated, of which 2,825 that did not answer the research question were eliminated, as well as 130 that did not evaluate original interventions, 57 carried out outside the workplace and two reviews; so that 10 selected items remained. Interventions based on structured programs previously evaluated and integrated into the workplace had a favorable impact on the reduction of body weight and other risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for the prevention of type 2 diabetes should be based on structured programs with proven effectiveness and adapted to the workplace, with employer participation in the provision of schedules and work environments.

Making Sense of Chinese Employees' Suicide Ideation: Does Meaning in Life Matter?

Drawing on the self-determination theory and conservation of resources, our research shed light on the linkage between organizational autonomy support and suicide ideation. Specifically, this study examined whether the negative influence of autonomy support on suicide ideation is mediated via meaning in life, and if employee's autonomy orientations constitute a boundary condition of this relationship. To test the hypothesized model, data were collected from professional employees (N = 687) across six organizations of various business sectors. The findings supported our proposed hypotheses and showed that individuals' meaning in life mediated the linkage between autonomy support and suicide ideation. As suggested, hypothesized relations were moderated by employee's disposition in such a way that autonomy support influences meaning in life of employees high on autonomy orientation, but not of employees low on autonomy orientation. The study discussed implications and future research avenues.

Adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: current status and influential factors based on electronic questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is important to the management of diabetes mellitus, yet most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) do not perform SMBG as recommended. The current status and influential factors of SMBG in China have not been well investigated. This study aimed to describe the present status of SMBG adherence in China and investigate the influential factors based on electronic questionnaires.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July of 2017 at hospitals in Changsha, China. Seven hundred and twenty-one patients with T2DM completed the information‑motivation‑behavioral (IMB) skills questionnaire and other electronic questionnaires composed of demographic and clinical characteristics as well as diabetes-related and psychological scales. Univariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationships among SMBG adherence and related factors.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and twenty-one patients with valid questionnaires were included. Only 27.5% (198/721) of the patients with T2DM were SMBG adherent based on the guideline of the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) in 2017. Among all groups of treatment regimens, the rate of SMBG adherence was highest at 36.6% (82/224) in patients on oral hypoglycaemic drugs (OHAs). In multivariable analysis, the treatment of OHAs (OR =3.731, CI 2.162-6.437) and diet/exercise (OR =3.534, CI 1.841-6.783), the patient having their own blood glucose meter (OR =6.916, CI 4.054-11.800) and a higher education level (OR =3.780, CI 1.688-8.466) were significantly associated with SMBG adherence.

CONCLUSION

Most Chinese patients with T2DM did not perform SMBG as recommended. The treatment of OHAs and diet/exercise, the patient having their own blood glucose meter, a higher education level and other factors were correlates of SMBG adherence. There is clearly a need for prospective, multicenter, large-scale studies to explore the reasons for patients' failure to practice SMBG adherence.