concept

job strain

Facts (25)

Sources

Stress, Lifestyle, and Health – Psychology 2e OpenStax pressbooks.cuny.edu CUNY Pressbooks 9 facts

claimJob strain is defined as a work situation that combines excessive job demands and workload with little discretion in decision-making or job control.

measurementA longitudinal study of over 10,000 British civil servants reported that workers under 50 years old who previously reported high job strain were 68% more likely to later develop heart disease than those under 50 who reported little job strain.

claimLow-status jobs such as factory workers, postal clerks, supermarket cashiers, taxi drivers, and short-order cooks often involve heavy workloads and little job control, leading to job strain.

claimJob strain is associated with an increased risk of hypertension according to Schnall & Landsbergis (1994), heart attacks according to Theorell et al. (1998), recurrence of heart disease after a first heart attack according to Aboa-Éboulé et al. (2007), significant weight loss or gain according to Kivimäki et al. (2006), and major depressive disorder according to Stansfeld, Shipley, Head, & Fuhrer (2012).

claimJob strain, which can lead to job burnout, is caused by jobs that are highly demanding, offer little control over the working environment, or involve unfavorable working conditions.

claimHundreds of studies involving tens of thousands of participants have tested the effects of various brief and chronic stressors on the immune system, including public speaking, medical school examinations, unemployment, marital discord, divorce, death of a spouse, burnout, job strain, caring for a relative with Alzheimer’s disease, and exposure to the harsh climate of Antarctica.

claimJob strain is a primary risk factor for job burnout, which is most commonly observed in workers who are aged 55–64, unmarried, and employed in manual labor.

claimExposure to various stressors, including job strain (Trudel, Brisson, & Milot, 2010), natural disasters (Saito, Kim, Maekawa, Ikeda, & Yokoyama, 1997), marital conflict (Nealey-Moore, Smith, Uchino, Hawkins, & Olson-Cerny, 2007), and high traffic noise levels at home (de Kluizenaar, Gansevoort, Miedema, & de Jong, 2007), has been linked to cardiovascular problems such as hypertension.

claimHigh blood pressure resulting from significant job strain can damage the heart over time, potentially leading to heart attack or heart failure.

Stress, Lifestyle, and Health – Introduction to Psychology open.maricopa.edu Maricopa Open Digital Press 7 facts

claimOccupations often characterized by low status and high job strain—defined by heavy workloads and little job control—include factory workers, postal clerks, supermarket cashiers, taxi drivers, and short-order cooks.

claimJob strain is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, heart attacks, recurrence of heart disease, significant weight loss or gain, and major depressive disorder.

measurementA longitudinal study of over 10,000 British civil servants found that workers under 50 years old who reported high job strain were 68% more likely to develop heart disease later in life compared to workers under 50 who reported little job strain.

claimStressors linked to hypertension include job strain, natural disasters, marital conflict, and exposure to high traffic noise levels at home.

claimJob strain is a primary risk factor for job burnout, which is most commonly observed in workers aged 55–64, unmarried individuals, and those in manual labor jobs.

referenceKarasek and Theorell (1990) define job strain as a work situation that combines excessive job demands and workload with little discretion in decision making or job control.

Work environment risk factors causing day-to-day stress in ... link.springer.com Springer Feb 5, 2022 7 facts

claimMeso-level workplace structures, such as job insecurity, and meso-level psychosocial working conditions, such as job strain, are related to the risk of diseases and disorders.

referenceThe Job Demand-Control-Support model pairs work intensity with the control dimension to describe job strain.

claimThe relationship between job demands and control and their impact on stress and health consequences remains unclear, specifically whether they act independently or through their interaction as job strain.

claimJob strain is linked to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and smoking intensity.

claimModifying work schedules is a potential intervention to reduce job strain, but the authors of the systematic review note that only a randomized clinical trial can definitively assess its effectiveness.

referenceBelkic K, Landsbergis PA, Schnall PL, and Baker D investigated whether job strain is a major source of cardiovascular disease risk in a 2004 study.

referenceJohnson, Hall, and Theorell studied the combined effects of job strain and social isolation on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in a random sample of the Swedish male working population.

Stress, Lifestyle, and Health - Maricopa Open Digital Press open.maricopa.edu Maricopa Open Digital Press 1 fact

claimJob strain is a work situation involving the combination of excessive job demands and workload with little decision-making latitude or job control.

Implications for Mental Health and Coping Strategies | OxJournal oxjournal.org oxjournal.org Aug 12, 2024 1 fact

referenceJob strain, hazardous working conditions, and economic instability exacerbate stress, particularly among individuals in lower socioeconomic positions, according to a report by the American Psychological Association.