Objectives The aim of this article is to present the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ), a questionnaire developed in three different lengths for assessing psychosocial factors at work, stress, and the well-being of employees and some personality factors. The purpose of the COPSOQ concept is to improve and facilitate research, as well as practical interventions at workplaces. MethodsThe development of the questionnaire was based on a survey of a representative sample of 1858Danish employees aged 20-59 years. The response rate was 62%; 49% were women. Altogether 145 questions from some international and Danish questionnaires and 20 self-developed questions were tested with factor analyses, analyses of internal reliability, and analyses of response patterns. ResultsThe analyses resulted in a long research version of the questionnaire with 141 questions and 30 dimensions, a medium-length version for work environment professionals with 95 questions and 26 dimensions, and a short version for workplaces with 44 questions and 8 dimensions. Most of the scales have good reliability, and there seems to be very little overlap between the scales. A novel feature of the COPSOQ is the development of five different scales on demands at work. ConclusionsThe COPSOQ concept is a valid and reliable tool for workplace surveys, analytic research, interventions, and international comparisons. The questionnaire seems to be comprehensive and to include most of the relevant dimensions according to several important theories on psychosocial factors at work. The three versions facilitate communication between researchers, work environment professionals, and workplaces.Key terms psychosocial factors; stress; survey. The psychosocial work environment is generally considered to be one of the most important work environment issues in contemporary and future societies (1-5). A large proportion of employees in the countries of the European Union (EU) reports being exposed to psychosocial stressors at work, and the consequences are believed to be very significant for workers, workplaces, and society. Among these consequences are musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, stress, burnout, reduced quality of life, sickness absence, labor turnover, and decreased motivation and productivity. Recently, the EU member countries gave psychosocial factors "top priority" among work environment factors (6), and the directors of the European work environment institutes have estimated that psychosocial factors would be the most important research field in the future (7).In research on psychosocial factors several different methods can be used, such as standardized questionnaires, clinical examinations, observational methods, registers, secondary data, and qualitative interviews. Most researchers agree that well-validated standardized questionnaires are necessary tools in research, as well as in practical prevention. In our article, such a tool is presented: the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Background ...

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www.isrctn.org/ISRCTN60264809. In generally healthy adults with frequent neck/shoulder muscle pain, as little as 2 minutes of daily progressive resistance training reduces pain and tenderness.

Background: Although leisure-time physical activity is important for health, adherence to regular exercise is challenging for many adults. The workplace may provide an optimal setting to reach a large proportion of the adult population needing regular physical exercise. This study evaluates the effect of implementing strength training at the workplace on non-specific neck and shoulder pain among industrial workers. Methods: Cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 537 adults from occupations with high prevalence of neck and shoulder pain (industrial production units). Participants were randomized to 20 weeks of high-intensity strength training for the neck and shoulders three times a week (n = 282) or a control group receiving advice to stay physically active (n = 255). The strength training program followed principles of progressive overload and periodization. The primary outcome was changes in self-reported neck and shoulder pain intensity (scale 0-9).

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and a number of psychosocial work environment factors with a potential impact on inequality in health. Methods: A representative sample of 1,684 adult Danish employees fi lled in a standardized questionnaire or were interviewed by telephone. The response rate was 62%. The population was divided into four levels of SES (I to IV). The psychosocial work environment was described with 19 scales. Results: Quantitative, cognitive, and emotional job demands and a number of dimensions related to active and developmental work showed higher levels among high SES individuals. Job insecurity was highest among women with low SES. Dimensions describing interpersonal relations, social support, and leadership showed no clear associations with SES. Conclusions: Prevention aiming at improving health and reducing inequality in health should focus on the dimensions of active and developmental work: infl uence at work, possibilities for development, degrees of freedom, and meaning of work. Furthermore, job insecurity should be reduced.