Current issues relating to psychosocial job strain and cardiovascular disease research.

Abstract

The authors comment on recent reviews of cardiovascular job strain research by P. L. Schnall and P. A. Landsbergis (1994), and by T. S. Kristensen (1995), which conclude that job strain as defined by the demand-control model (the combination of contributions of low job decision latitudes and high psychological job demands) is confirmed as a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in a large majority of studies. Lack of social support at work appears to further increase risk. Several still-unresolved research questions are examined in light of recent studies: (a) methodological issues related to use of occupational aggregate estimations and occupational career aggregate assessments, use of standard scales for job analysis and recall bias issues in self-reporting; (b) confounding factors and differential strengths of association by subgroups in job strain-cardiovascular disease analyses with respect to social class, gender, and working hours; and (c) review of results of monitoring job strain-blood pressure associations and associated methodological issues.

Job stress interventions and the organization of work

“…These problems are exemplified by evidence related to the stress-buffering effect of control, as postulated by the job-demands-control model (65). This stressbuffering effect is found only for people who have the internal (or personal) resources to use control (a structural resource) effectively.…”

The emerging positive agenda in organizations: greater than a trickle, but not yet a deluge

“…In the past, various self-report measures of job strain have been linked with cardiovascular mortality (Theorell & Karasak, 1996). The composite measures, pulse pressure and pulse product, provide firsthand, objective measurements of cardiovascular health and efficiency.…”

Job control, job demands, social support at work and health among adolescent workers

“…12,13 Workers in high-strain jobs have an increased risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. 20 Later, another dimension, social support, was added to the theory. 13 Studies regarding job demands, job control, and musculoskeletal symptoms 9 reported associations not only between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychological job demands, but also found that psychological job demands were related to high levels of physical exertion on the job.…”