Background: The aim of this study was to present, evaluate and propose a tool for the assessment of psychosocial working conditions in epidemiological studies. A referent group of the large epidemiological study, the MUSIC-Norrtälje study of musculoskeletal disorders, was used. The respondents were 950 working persons (585 female and 365 male). Method: Self-administered questionnaire and personal interview were used. The responses were subjected to factor analysis. The resulting model had components generated from the demand-control-support model and action theory. Result: The result supported the use of different aspects of psychological job demands. The interview data seemed to be more related to factual exposure and the questionnaire data more to individual perception. The usefulness of the model was supported by associations between the model and psychosomatic symptoms and sleep disturbances. Conclusion : A combination of interview and questionnaire increases the possibility of interpreting the association between working conditions and health and may provide a more effective basis for interventions.
Bernard BP, editor. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors. A critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity and low back . NIOSH: US Department of Health and Human Services, 1997.
4.
Bongers PM, de Winter C., Kompier M., Hildebrandt V.Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health1993; 19: 297-312.
5.
Burdorf A.Positive and negative evidence of risk factors for back disorders . Scand J Work Environ Health1997; 23: 243-56.
6.
Kilbom Å.Musculoskeletal disorders: work related risk factors and prevention. Int J Occupational andEnvironmental Health1996 ; 3: 239-46.
7.
Theorell T.Possible mechanisms behind the relationship between the demand-control-support model and disorders of the locomotor system. In: Moon S, Sauter S, editors. Beyond biomechanics. Psychosocial aspects of musculoskeletal disorders in office work. London: Taylor & Francis, 1996: 65-73.
8.
Ekberg K.An epidemiologic approach to disorders in the neck and shoulders [Dissertation] . Linköping: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, 1994.
9.
Stansfeld SA , Norht FM, White I., Marmot MGWork characteristics and psychiatric disorder in civil servants in London. J Epidemiol Community Health1995; 49: 48-53.
10.
Stansfeld SA , Fuhrer R., Head J., Ferrie, Shipley MJWork and psychiatric disorders in the Whitehall II study. J Psychosom Res1997; 43: 73-81.
11.
Stansfeld SA , Fuhrer R., Shipley MJTypes of social support as predictors of psychiatric morbidity in a cohort of British civil servants ( Whitehall II). Psychol Med1998; 28: 881-92.
12.
Stansfeld SA , Bosma H., Hemingway H., Marmot MGPsychosocial work characteristics and social support as predictors of SF-36 health functioning . Psychosom Med1998; 60: 247-55.
13.
Stansfeld SA , Fuhrer R., Shipley MJ, Marmot MGWork characteristics predict psychiatric disorders: prospective results from the Whitehall II study . Occup Environ Med1999; 56: 302-7.
14.
Niedhammer I., Goldberg M., Leclerc A., Bugel I., David S.Psychosocial factors at work and subsequent depressive symptoms in the Gazel cohort. Scand J Work Environ Health1998; 24: 197-205.
15.
Ahlberg-Hultén G., Theorell T., Sigala F.Social support, job strain and musculoskeletal pain among female health care personel. Scand J Work Environ Health1995; 21: 435-9.
16.
Ahlberg-Hultén G., Theorell T., Josephson M., Waldenström M., Vingård E.Changes in psychosocial work environment 1988-1996 among health care personnel in comparison to other occupational groups. Psychological Demands and Decision Latitude within Health Care Work: Relation to Health and Signifi cance. [Dissertation] Stockholm, Sweden: Dept of Psychology: Stockholm University, 1999.
17.
Johansson JÅPsychosocial factors at work and their relation to musculoskeletal symptoms . Göteborg: Department of Psychology , 1994.
18.
Johnson, JV , Hall EMJob strain, workplace social support and cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study of a random sample of the Swedish working population. Am J Public Health1994; 78: 1336-42.
19.
Josephson M. , Lagerström M., Hagberg M., Wigaeus Hjelm E.Musculoskeletal symptoms and job strain among nursing personnel: a study over a three year period. Occup Environ Med1997; 54: 681-5.
20.
Josephson M. , Vingård E., Wiktorin C.Workplace factors and care seeking for low back pain among female nursing personnel. Scand J Work , Environment & Health1998; 24: 465-72.
21.
Wigaeus-Tornqvist E.The infl uence on seeking care due to neck and shoulder disorders from work-related exposure among men and women in a Swedish general population: results from the Music Norrtälje study. Submitted.
22.
Vingård E. et al. How much can occupational physical and psychosocial factors explain of low back pain in a working population?Spine2000; 25: 493-500.
23.
Kasl SVThe infl uence of the work environment on cardiovascular health: a historical, conceptual, and methodological perspective. J OccupationalHealth Psychology1996; 1: 42-56.
24.
Kasl SVMeasuring job stressors and studying the health impact of the work environment: an epidemiological commentary. J OccupationalHealth Psychology1998; 3: 390-401.
25.
Kristensen TSJob stress and cardiovascular disease: a theoretical critical review. J Occupational Health Psychology, 1996; 1: 390-401.
26.
Karasek R.Job demands, job decision latitude and mental strain: implication for job redesign. Adm Sci Q1979; 24: 285-308.
27.
Karasek R., Theorell T.Healthy work. New York: Basic Books , 1990.
28.
Hacker W.Objective work environment: analysis and evaluation of objective work characteristics. A healthier work environment - basic concepts and methods of measurement. Copenhagen: Regional Office for Europe Environment and Health Department , 1993.
29.
Volpert W., Oesterreich R., Gablenz-Kolakovic S., Krogoll T., Resch M.Verfahren zur Ermittlung von Regulationserfordernissen in der Arbeitstätigkeit (VERA), Handbuch und Manual. Cologne: Verlag TuV Rheinland, 1983.
30.
Waldenström M., Josephson M., Persson C., Theorell T.Interview reliability for assessing mental work demands. J OccupationalHealth Psychology1998; 3: 209-16.
31.
Toomingas A. , Theorell T., Michélsen H., Nordemar L.Study group association between self-rated psychosocial work conditions and musculoskeletal symptoms and signs. Scand J Work Environ Health1997; 23: 130-9.
32.
Leitner K., Volpert W., Greiner B., Weber W., Hennes K.Analyse psychischer Belastung in der Arbeit, das RHIA-Verfahren. Cologne: Verlag T-V Rheinland, 1983 .
33.
Michélsen H., Härenstam A., Nordemar R., Theorell T. and the StockholmMusic 1 study group. Metodaspekter på mätning av psykosocial exponering i arbete och på fritid i Stockholmsundersökningen 1. In: Hagberg M, Hogstedt C, editors. [Stockholmsundersökningen 1: Evaluation of methods for assessment of health and exposures in epidemiological studies of musculoskeletal disorders.]Stockholm: Music Books, 1993: 139-82.
34.
Siegrist, J.Adverse health effects of high effort-low reward conditions. J OccupationalHealth Psychology1997; 1: 27-41.
35.
Theorell T., Konarski-Svensson K., Ahlmén J., Perski A.The role of paid work in Swedish chronic dialysis patients a nation wide survey: paid work dialysis. J InternationalMedicine1991; 239: 501-9.
36.
Kecklund G. , Åkerstedt T.The psychometric properties of the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire. J Sleep Research1992 ; 1 (suppl.): 133.
37.
Everitt B., Dunn G.Applied multivariate data analysis. London: Edward Arnold, 1991.
38.
Kim J., Mueller C.Factor analysis: statistical methods and practical issues. London: Sage Publications, 1978.
39.
Aronsson G.Dimensions of control as related to work organization, stress and health. Int J Health Serv1989; 19: 459-68.
40.
Hagström T.Arbetslösas beredskap inför arbetslivet. (Unemployed people's attitude towards working life). Stockholm: Pedagogical Institute, University of Stockholm, 1988.
41.
Statistics Sweden Population and Housing.Sensus. Stockholm: Statistics Sweden , 1990.
