Stress Characteristics in Different Work Conditions: Is it Possible to Identify Specificity of Risk Factors by the Questionnaire Method?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify, by a brief ad hoc questionnaire, specific dimensions of perceived occupational stress that could be relevant in two different work conditions of female workers: visual display unit (VDU) operators, for whom the risk of work-related stress is already known in literature, and kindergarten teachers, for whom very few studies have examined this risk. A questionnaire, prepared specifically for workers, was filled in by 70 all-female kindergarten teachers and 70 all-female VDU operators. The two groups were matched for age and length of service. The questionnaire was examined by factor analysis and questionnaire single item scores. Total score and factor scores were examined between group comparison of means analysis. The level of significance was established at p<0.05. Kindergarten teachers show significantly higher values of the questionnaire total score than VDU operators, indicating a higher level of perceived stress related to their occupation. In particular, the factor scores concerning perceived load of work responsibilities, the first of the three factors accounting for the structure of the questionnaire (1. perceived load of work-responsibility; 2. independence and autonomy in performing work-duties; 3. negative features of work interfering with psycho-physical wellbeing) are significant between groups. Compared to VDU operators, kindergarten teachers perceive a more stressful condition of responsibility in taking independent decisions and autonomously managing their work. When appropriate comparisons are performed between groups of workers operating under different occupational conditions, it is possible to identify, using an ad hoc questionnaire, different sources of occupational stress which are effective in the work environment of different categories of female workers. Occupational stress is a very complex problem that may be related to organizational, physical, social and environmental work features (l). Italian legislation, through the Legislative Decree n.81/08, art. 28 paragraph I (EU Directive 89/391/CEE), made it mandatory to evaluate work-related stress risk factors, and in order to accomplish this task ad hoc tools and procedures are needed. Scientific data identify different methods for assessing work-related stress hazards: subjective ones, based on questionnaires, often complex and composed of many items, rating scales and

Mobbing: a meta-analysis

“…Psychosomatic disturbs were also included in this category, because they were considered a consequence and a demonstration of the impairment of mental health. There are many psychiatric disturbs related to mobbing in literature: maladaptive disorders, depression, anxiety, pre-alarm status, obsessions, panic attacks, isolation (27,30,31,32), eating disorders (33), post-traumatic stress disorder (27,32,34), psychosomatic disturbs, stress and generic consequences on mental health (14,17,19,20,35). The heterogeneity is high in all the subcategories, because of the different ways of selection and evaluation mentioned above.…”

Cholesterol, Cytokines and Diseases

“…Within atherosclerotic sites, endothelial cells and leukocytes both have increased their expression of numerous adhesion molecules and their receptors, including intracellular adhesion molecule-I, vascular celI adhesion molecule-I,~,-integrin,~~ integrin and P-selectin (118)(119)(120)(121). In vivo studies (122)(123) have shown that blocking these adhesion molecule interactions by the administration of antibodies or gene targeting attenuates the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, indicating a potential therapeutic role for inhibition of leukocyte adhesion and extravasation.…”

Psychological Stress and Cancer

“…Once a cancer patient is affected by stress, specific pathways within the brain lead to the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as well as the central sympathetic nervous system (3). The stress response consists in releasing key peripheral mediators such as catecholamines and glucocorticoids the role of which in the pathophysiology of chronic stress is extraordinarily complex and controversial (4). Moreover, in cancer, catecholamines can enhance carcinogenic properties of prostate, ovary, breast and colon tumor cells (5), while glucocorticoids are immune-suppressive agents (6).…”