Low job control leads to decline in physical function and mental health

In a four year prospective study of 21 290 female nurses in the United States Cheng et al (p 1432 found that stressful job conditions, characterised by low control, high demands, and low social support, predicted significant declines in physical functioning and mental health. Low control in jobs has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the authors suggest that lowered quality of life should be added to this. The size of the loss in functional health status associated with job stress over the four year follow up was at least as large as that associated with smoking and sedentary lifestyle. Hospitals need to consider the redesign of jobs as a health promotion strategy.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Association between psychosocial work characteristics and health functioning in American women: prospective study

Yawen Cheng, Ichiro Kawachi, Eugenie H Coakley, Joel Schwartz, and Graham Colditz
BMJ 2000 320: 1432-1436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]