Joseph J. Hurrell

Exposure to job stress--a new psychometric instrument.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether men employed in the metal industry have sperm of poorer quality than men in other types of work. A postal questionnaire was sent to men employed in the metal industry, certain other types of nonmetal industries, and other types of employment in which the factors suspected to influence sperm quality were not present. By means of this questionnaire survey, it was hoped to define the possible influences of the work environment on sperm quality. Out of the total of 3,119 men included in the investigation, 2,517 (81%) filled out the questionnaire satisfactorily. Semen analysis was performed for all 3,119 men. There was a greater risk for poor sperm quality among welders than among men not employed in welding. The risk for poor sperm quality was increased for those welders who worked with stainless steel. Welding in general, and specifically with stainless steel, is connected with a risk of reduced sperm quality.

A field study of supplementary rest breaks for data-entry operators.

This study examined the effects of supplementary rest breaks on musculoskeletal discomfort, eyestrain, mood, and performance in data-entry workers. Two rest break schedules were compared in a within-subjects design. Workers alternated between a ‘conventional’ and a ‘supplementary’ schedule in 4-week intervals. The conventional schedule contained a 15-min break during the first half of the work shift and a 15-min break during the second half of the shift. The supplementary schedule contained the same two 15-min breaks, and a 5-min break during each hour which otherwise did not contain a break, for a total of 20 extra minutes of break time. Results are based on data from 42 workers. They indicated that discomfort in several areas of the body, and eyestrain, were significantly lower under the supplementary than under the conventional schedule. While symptoms increased from pre- to post-work periods under both schedules, the magnitude of the increases was significantly less under the supplementary schedule. In addition, increases in discomfort of the right forearm, wrist and hand over the course of the work week under the conventional schedule were eliminated under the supplementary schedule. These beneficial effects were obtained without reductions in data-entry performance.

Evaluation of symptom surveys for occupational musculoskeletal disorders

Symptom surveys have been used extensively as part of workplace ergonomic screening programs and epidemiologic assessments of musculoskeletal disorders in groups of workers. This paper examines the reliability and validity of two musculoskeletal symptom surveys, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and a survey used in conjunction with epidemiologic assessments by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Journal articles assessing the validity and reliability of the NMQ were reviewed. A retrospective assessment combining two NIOSH cohorts with a total of 852 workers assessed the reliability and validity of that survey. Reliability was assessed through test-retest methods and interitem correlations between similar questions. Validity was assessed by comparison with results from physical examination assessments of workers and self-reports of workers seeking medical care. Both reliability and validity were found to be acceptable for the purposes of workplace ergonomics programs. Implications for use of these surveys for prevention and treatment outcomes research are discussed.

Job stress interventions.

Reported job stress in the US workforce is on the increase. Among the causes are downsizing, reorganisation and changing technology. This collection of empirical studies presents models for job stress intervention at both the individual level and at the organisational and policy level.

Stress & well-being at work: Assessments and interventions for occupational mental health.

This synthesis of empirical research efforts, idiographic inquiries and conceptual reviews brings epidemiological and public health concepts of prevention into the arena of occupational mental health. It is intended as a resource book for those interested in work design and mental health.

Control, stress, and job satisfaction in Canadian nurses

Abstract The main effects of four domains of control (task, decision, resource, physical environment) on job satisfaction and their interactions with three types of job stressors (task demands, role conflict, interpersonal conflict) were examined in a sample of 765 Canadian nurses. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the proportion of variance in job satisfaction that could be accounted for by job stressors, control, and the interaction of stressors and control in that order. The job stressors were analysed separately and as a composite job demands score, as were the four domains of control. The results indicated that the proportion of variance in job satisfaction increased with the addition of control for the composite scores and for task, resource, and physical environment control. However, decision control did not account for additional variance in job satisfaction above that for any of the job stressors. In addition, none of the stressor x control interactions were significant. Th...

Occupational stress intervention

The topic of occupational stress has received considerable research attention during the last decade and has emerged as an important occupational safety and health concern. Worker compensation claims for stress-related illnesses, for example, were the fastest growing type of claim in the 1980s, comprising more that 11% of all such claims. Concern over problems associated with occupational stress and their costs has fostered interest in intervention strategies. While specific work stressors and their resulting physical and mental health consequences have been identified, relatively few successful interventions have been documented in the literature. This article discusses primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions efforts in the area of occupational stress and argues for efforts to increase understanding of the occupational stress intervention process.

Occupational Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorders

This study attempted to provide occupational health professionals with an empirical basis for identifying and selecting specific occupations for further research into the relationship between job stress and worker health. Specifically, this involved an examination of the admission records of community mental health centers throughout one state (Tennessee) to determine the incidence rate of diagnosed mental health disorders for 130 major occupations (i.e., occupations employing 1,000 or more workers in the state). These occupations were then rank-ordered by incidence rate to provide a general scheme for evaluating the relative frequency of mental health disorders among the select occupations. The results indicated a disproportionate incidence of mental health anomalies among the hospital/health care professions. Some tentative explanations of this finding are presented, and suggestions are made for future research efforts.

Accident reduction through stress management

The deleterious effects of occupational stress on worker health and well-being have been described in numerous reports for a wide range of work groups. Work overload (and underload), deadline pressures, role Stressors, underutilization of abilities, and physical discomfort have been identified as work factors associated with increased stress symptom reporting. The relationship between work stress and accident/injury occurrences is less clearly documented, although scattered reports in the literature suggest a contributory role for stress in the accident process. In this article, data linking stress to unsafe work behavior are reviewed and a model is proposed wherein accidents can arise from impaired worker capabilities (e.g., slower reaction time) brought about by stress symptom activity (e.g., anxiety). The potential usefulness of stress management training (SMT) for shortcircuiting the stress/accidents cycle by alleviating stress symptoms is discussed in light of recent empirical research.

Job Stress Among Female Flight Attendants

We evaluated the presence of chronic job stressors among flight attendants (FAs) to examine the relationships between these job stressors and psychological distress and job dissatisfaction. Seventy-three female FAs (90% participation) employed at two commercial airlines completed a detailed questionnaire. Standard questions and scale measures were used to assess job stressors, psychological distress, and job dissatisfaction. The association between job stressors and these outcomes was evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Except for fatigue, distress and job dissatisfaction were moderate to low. Job stressors were found to have a substantive effect on these outcomes, following adjustment for individual factors. Despite moderate-to-low levels of distress and dissatisfaction, targeted efforts to reduce selected job stressors and to enhance social support may be important steps toward improving the well-being and satisfaction of FAs.