Psychophysical workload of workers in Slovenia

Abstract

Introduction: The psychophysical workloads with which an individual has to cope on a basis at their workplace are important for the employee as well as the employer. It is important to be aware of them, draw attention to them and strive to reduce their sources. The setting-up of programmes and procedures is an important factor in reducing negative effects on employees, as well as maintaining and increasing employees' mental and physical health. Methods: This article will present a short self-assessment scale of psychophysical health that enables us to evaluate the appearance of five of the most frequent psychosomatic problems experienced by employees (N = 490). Results: In the research, we will analyse the presence of exhaustion, social behavioural disorders, physical disorders, depressive reactions, and fear and anxiety in different demographic groups and, at the end, we will connect the symptoms with the field of activity. Discussion and conclusions: Research has shown a link between demographic variables and exposure to psychophysical risks. There is a more straightforward connection with education (higher levels of education are connected to lower risk), while the connection with age and gender is not so clear. Psychophysical workloads are more frequent in construction, manufacturing, the information industry and the civil service.