Psychosocial work environment, hearing impairment and health

Abstract

This article summarizes results from a study of hearing-impaired men and women in the labour force in Sweden. A questionnaire about psychosocial work environment (in accordance with the Demand-Control Model), health and wellbeing was sent out and answered by 445 hearing-impaired people, 20-64 years of age. A large reference group had previously answered the same questionnaire. The results indicate that imbalances between demand and control (i.e. high demand and low control, so-called high stress work type) is more common among hearing-impaired people than in the reference group. The outcome of the combination high demand and low control among hearing-impaired people is (much) worse than among hearing-impaired people with other work types (passive. active, low stress). Hearing-impaired people with the high-stress work type more frequently report bad physical health status and psychological wellbeing regarding a number of indicators There is, moreover, a tendency for women to be worse off than men. Our data suggest that those involved in audiological rehabilitation should pay great attention to hearing-impaired people with jobs that can be characterized as high stress.

The ICF core sets for hearing loss project: Functioning and disability from the patient perspective

“…The present study focuses on adult patient perspective on functioning and disability in hearing loss and it part of the ICF Cores sets for Hearing loss project (Danermark et al, 2010 Kramer et al, 2005;Kricos & Holmes, 1996;Kricos et al, 1992) and participation in work (Danermark & Coniavitis Gellerstedt, 2004;Kramer, 2008). The results of the present study further emphasize the importance of investigating external influences, such as environmental factors, when assessing functioning of persons with HL.…”

The ICF core sets for hearing loss project: International expert survey on functioning and disability of adults with hearing loss using the international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF)

“…This is not surprising because people with hearing loss are established as a vulnerable group in the labour market with overrepresentation in early retirement (Danermark & Coniavitis Gellerstedt, 2004), increased emotional distress due to misinterpretation of external information at work (Morata et al, 2005) and experiencing lack of control in the work environment (Kramer et al, 2006). Threatening of the social bonds, as can occur when the interaction is interrupt by a hearing loss, may generate negative emotions (Scheff, 1990).…”

Societal costs of hearing disorders: A systematic and critical review of literature

“…Activity/sickness compensation is almost three times higher for the population with total hearing loss than the reference population (Rydberg, Gellerstedt et al 2010). One study, based on selfreported psychosocial work environment in a group of hearing-impaired people in Sweden, found that hearing-impaired people with highly stressful work reported poorer physical health status and lower psychological well-being than normal-hearing peers (Danermark and Gellerstedt 2004 …”