The relationship between the psychosocial factors at work (psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support) and two aspects of mental load (Stress and Energy) was studied among 179 employees in a car body factory (137 men, 42 women). Regression analyses showed that Stress was positively correlated with Psychological demands, and Energy with Decision latitude. Shoulder and neck symptoms were more common among those who reported high stress; shoulder symptoms were also associated with high Psychological demands.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BongersP.M.WinterC.R.KompierM.A.J.HildebrandtV.H. (1993). Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal diseaseScandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 19, 297–312.
2.
JohanssonJ.Å. (1995). The impact of decision latitude, psychological load and social support at work on musculoskeletal symptoms. European Journal of Public Health, 5, 169–174.
3.
Johansson HanseJ.EngströmT. (1999). Sense of coherence and ill health among the unemployed and re-employed after closure of an assembly plant. Work & Stress, 13, 204–222.
4.
JohnsonJ.V.HallE.M. (1988). Job strain, work place social support and cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study of a random sample of the Swedish working population. American Journal of Public Health, 78, 1336–1342.
5.
KarasekR. (1979) Job demands, job decision latitude and mental strain: implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24, 285–308.
6.
KjellbergA.AnderssonP.SköldströmB.LindbergL. (1996). Fatigue effects of noise on aeroplane mechanics. Work & Stress, 10, 62–71.
7.
KjellbergA.IwanowskiS. (1989). Stress/energi-formuläret: utveckling av en metod för skattning av sinnesstämning i arbetet. Undersökningsrapport 1989:26. Solna (Sweden): Arbetslivsinstitutet. (in Swedish).
8.
KuorinkaI.JonssonB.KilbomÅ.VinterbergH.Biering-SorensenF.AnderssonG.JorgensenK. (1987). Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Applied Ergonomics, 18, 233–237.
9.
MelinB.LundbergU. (1997). A biopsychosocial approach to work-stress and musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Psychophysiology, 11, 238–247.
10.
TheorellT.Ahlberg-HultenG.SigalaF.PerskiA.SoderholmM. (1990). A psychosocial and biomedical comparison between men in six contrasting service occupations. Work & Stress, 4, 51–63.
11.
TheorellT.PerskiA.ÅkerstedtT.SigalaF.Ahlberg-HulténG.SvenssonJ.EnerothP. (1988). Changes in job strain in relation to changes in physiological state. A longitudinal study. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 14, 189–196.
12.
WinkelJ.ChristmassonM.CyrénH.EngströmT.ForsmanM.HanssonG. Å.Johansson HanseJ.KadeforsR.MathiassenS.E.MedboL.MöllerTOhlssonK.PeterssonN.P.SkerfvingS.SundinA. (1999). A Swedish industrial research program ‘Cooperative for Optimization of industrial production systems regarding Productivity and Ergonomics’ (COPE). American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Supplement1, 82–85.