Sense of coherence is associated with reduced psychological responses to job stressors among Japanese factory workers

Urakawa, Kayoko; Yokoyama, Kazuhito; Itoh, Hiroaki

doi:10.1186/1756-0500-5-247

Cited by 34 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Previous research indicated that SOC acts as a buffer for health against the negative effects of workload when evaluated by self-reported questionnaires 5,6,10) . Our data obtained using an index of objective workload indicated the safe finding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sense of coherence modifies the effect of overtime work on mental health

Ohta

Higuchi

Kumashiro

et al. 2015

Journal of Occupational Health

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Sense of coherence modifies the effect of overtime work on mental health: Masanori Ohta, et al. Department of Health Development, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan Objective In the occupational health field, it is important to know how workload influences mental health. Overtime work and job strain appear to affect the mental health status of workers. Sense of coherence (SOC) may mediate the relationship between work stress and mental health. Since SOC represents a personal ability to manage psychological stressors, we hypothesized that a strong SOC would modify the adverse effect of an objective measure of overtime work on mental health. Methods A total of 1,558 Japanese workers employed in an information technology company were asked to complete a 3‐item SOC Questionnaire and 28‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) to assess mental health status. Workload was assessed by the actual amount of overtime work hours recorded by the company. Results Multiple regression analysis revealed a main effect of overtime work (β =0.08, p =0.0003) and SOC scores (β=0.41, p <0.0001) on GHQ scores. There was a tendency toward interaction between overtime work and SOC scores (β =0.05, p =0.051). Simple slope analysis supported this association (−1 SD below the mean, simple slope=0.04, SE=0.01, p <0.0001; +1 SD above the mean, simple slope=0.01, SE=0.01, p=0.188). Conclusions These results suggest that SOC buffers the mental health impacts of workload as measured by an objective index of overtime work, and should be considered when assessing the effects of workload on mental health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Job stress and job support were calculated using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), which is based on the demand-control-support model 10) . The BJSQ was developed in Japan for occupational health check-ups, and it is widely used there.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sense of coherence modifies the effect of overtime work on mental health

Ohta

Higuchi

Kumashiro

et al. 2015

Journal of Occupational Health

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“…In a study of Japanese factory workers, SOC was associated with reduced psychological responses to stressors 31) . As new medical students perceive many stressors such as the first period of examinations, having a higher SOC score might reduce these stressors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of low sense of coherence with poor subjective well-being: a three-month cohort study of new medical students in Japan

Nishiyama

Erina

Hashimoto

et al. 2016

Jpn. J. Health Hum. Ecol

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The aim of this 3-month cohort study was to examine the association between low sense of coherence (SOC) and poor subjective well-being of new medical students at a university. Participants were first-year students at Dokkyo Medical University (111 students in 2011, 107 in 2012, and 118 in 2013) who completed self-report questionnaires comprising 29 SOC items and 12 lifestyle items upon entry in April and again in July. Total SOC scores for April (131.8) and July (130.8) were almost unchanged, although meaningfulness and manageability scores decreased significantly and comprehensibility scores increased significantly. Mean scores of total SOC, manageability, and comprehensibility of students whose subjective well-being was good in April but poor in July were significantly lower than those of students whose subjective well-being was good in both months, whereas the mean score of meaningfulness of students with poor subjective well-being in both months was significantly lower than that of students whose subjective well-being was poor in April but good in July. Odds ratios for poor subjective well-being adjusted for age, sex, and year of admission were significantly high for low comprehensibility (4.33: 1.35-13.9) and low manageability (8.51: 1.90-38.1). Thus, our study suggested that the SOC of new medical students can be used to identify those students at risk of poor QOL.

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“…An association has been confirmed between SOC and biological mechanisms causing adverse physical health effects [32,33]. A strong sense of coherence as a personal characteristic serves as a buffer, protecting against the development of mental health problems and promoting psychological well-being [33][34][35] -having a strong SOC may reduce workers' negative job stress responses -tension, fatigue, anxiety, depression [36], the depletion of emotional resources, and feelings of depersonalization [37]. It is important to note that some epidemiological studies have confirmed a lower level of SOC in women population [30], also, the SOC level plays a more pronounced role in women's than in men's health under particularly stressful conditions [38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%