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Yamada M, Sekine M, Tatsuse T. Prevalence of coronary heart disease and its risk factors by working environment among Japanese male workers. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 2023; 61:395-405. [PMID: 36261338 PMCID: PMC10731413 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2022-0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Work is a major social determinant of health. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the association between coronary heart disease (CHD), its risk factors, and the working environment among Japanese male workers. We collected data from 10,572 workers (mean age 49.9 yr) who underwent annual medical check-ups in Toyama, Japan, in 2016. This study included data from health check-ups and questionnaires on medical history of CHD, hypertension, and diabetes, and the use of medication. The working environment included company size and industry categories. Company size was classified into 4 categories according to the number of full-time workers (1-20, 21-100, 101-300, 301-). The industry category was classified into 10 categories. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association. In total, 1.5% of patients had a history of CHD and 31.5% and 11.0% of participants were suffering from hypertension and diabetes, respectively. Compared to workers in a large company, those in a smaller company were more likely to have CHD. Moreover, there was a significant association between CHD's risk factors and working in the transportation industry. Health providers, including medical doctors, should consider employee working environment as a potential risk factor for CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Yamada
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Michikazu Sekine
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Japan
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Kamp T, Gademan MGJ, van Zon SKR, Nelissen RGHH, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Stevens M, Brouwer S. Time to return to work by occupational class after total hip or knee arthroplasty. Bone Joint J 2023; 105-B:977-984. [PMID: 37652455 DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.105b9.bjj-2023-0190.r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Aims For the increasing number of working-age patients undergoing total hip or total knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA), return to work (RTW) after surgery is crucial. We investigated the association between occupational class and time to RTW after THA or TKA. Methods Data from the prospective multicentre Longitudinal Leiden Orthopaedics Outcomes of Osteoarthritis Study were used. Questionnaires were completed preoperatively and six and 12 months postoperatively. Time to RTW was defined as days from surgery until RTW (full or partial). Occupational class was preoperatively assessed and categorized into four categories according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations 2008 (blue-/white-collar, high-/low-skilled). Cox regression analyses were conducted separately for THA and TKA patients. Low-skilled blue-collar work was used as the reference category. Results A total of 360 THA and 276 TKA patients, preoperatively employed, were included. Patients were mainly high-skilled (THA 57%; TKA 41%) or low-skilled (THA 24%; TKA 38%) white-collar workers. Six months post-THA, RTW rates were 78% of low-skilled blue-collar workers compared to 83% to 86% within other occupational classes, increasing after 12 months to 87% to 90% in all occupational classes. Six months post-TKA, RTW rates were 58% of low-skilled and 64% of high-skilled blue-collar workers compared to 80% to 89% of white-collar workers, and after 12 months 79% of low-skilled blue-collar workers compared to 87% to 92% within other occupational classes. High-skilled white-collar workers (THA: hazard ratio (HR) 2.12 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32 to 3.40); TKA: HR 2.31 (95% CI 1.34 to 4.00)) and low-skilled white-collar workers (TKA: HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.04 to 3.18)) had a higher hazard to RTW within six months postoperatively. Conclusion Clear differences existed in time to RTW among both THA and TKA patients in each of the groups studied. These findings may help guide tailored patient-specific information during preoperative consultation and advice postoperatively, as well as to create awareness among workers and their employers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Kamp
- Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Maaike G J Gademan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sander K R van Zon
- Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Rob G H H Nelissen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Martin Stevens
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sandra Brouwer
- Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Tseng PC, Lin PY, Liang WM, Lin WY, Kuo HW. Effort-reward imbalance and job strain index associated with health-related quality of life for civil servants in a national survey: the mediation effect of job support and over-commitment. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2022; 35:425-436. [PMID: 35815796 PMCID: PMC10464738 DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Work-related stress (WRS) is significantly associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but the amounts of evidence on differences of effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and job strain index (JSI) remain sparse and have limited generalizability. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between ERI and JSI with HRQoL and assess the mediation effect of social support (JS) and over-commitment (OC) on this association in Taiwan's civil servants. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional national survey was given to registered civil servants in Taiwan - 20 046 civil servants from 647 institutions were enrolled using multistage stratified random cluster sampling. A web-questionnaire collected demographic information, job characteristics, and different indexes of ERI and job-control-demand-support (JCDS) models. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the association between ERI and JSI with HRQoL, and the mediation effect of JS and OC on the associations. RESULTS In the ERI model, ERI and OC were consistently negatively associated with the mental component score (MCS) (r = -0.46 and r = -0.37) and physical component score (PCS) (r = -0.45 and r = -0.34), which were higher than job demand (r = -0.28 and r = -0.22) and JSI (r = -0.38 and r = -0.29). Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, ERI was significantly correlated with MCS and PCS, which was consistently higher than JSI. The ERI and JSI were significantly correlated with MCS (β = -0.170 and β = -0.140) and PCS (β = -0.150 and β = -0.082) using SEM analysis, whereas ERI was considerably higher than in JSI. In addition, OC and JS mediated the association between The ERI and JSI with HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS We found the ERI index is significantly correlated with HRQoL superior to JSI, in particular among Taiwan civil servants. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causality and spatiotemporal relation of these differences. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(4):425-36.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Chang Tseng
- National Yang Ming Chao Tung University, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Promotion Administration, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Yi Lin
- Hungkuang University, Department of Nursing, Taichung, Taiwan
- China Medical University Hospital, Department of Medical Research, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Miin Liang
- China Medical University, Department of Health Services Administration, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yu Lin
- National Yang Ming Chao Tung University, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
- Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Wen Kuo
- National Yang Ming Chao Tung University, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Defense University, Institute of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
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Nishikitani M, Nakao M, Inoue M, Tsurugano S, Yano E. Associations between Workers' Health and Working Conditions: Would the Physical and Mental Health of Nonregular Employees Improve If Their Income Was Adjusted? MEDICINES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:medicines9070040. [PMID: 35877818 PMCID: PMC9317295 DOI: 10.3390/medicines9070040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Precarious employment can negatively affect health, but workers may be healthy if they earn enough income. This study uses equivalent disposable income and examines the interaction between income classes and employment types to clarify whether workers’ health improves as the income classes rise. In Japan, nonstandard workers, called nonregular employees, have remained high since 2013. Therefore, using data from the national cross-sectional Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2013, an official survey performed in Japan, we targeted a sample of employees aged 18 to 45 who graduated during the economic recession. Our final sample included 8282 employees (4444 males and 3838 females). The health (general and mental) status indicators used the dichotomized self-rated health and scores of the K6 questionnaires scored in the national survey. The association between income and health was almost proportional. Female workers tended to improve their health as their income class increased; however, this tendency was not observed in male workers, especially nonregular employees. Although the associations were weakened by added income information on the regression models, nonregular employees always showed inferior health to regular employees. The health status of nonregular employees, especially female nonregular employees, is statistically significantly lower than that of regular employees, even when the economic class is similar. In conclusion, improving low incomes for nonregular employees could improve health challenges, but income alone may not result in the same health status for regular and nonregular employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Nishikitani
- Medical Information Center, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-92-642-6475
| | - Mutsuhiro Nakao
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba 286-8529, Japan;
| | - Mariko Inoue
- Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan; (M.I.); (E.Y.)
| | - Shinobu Tsurugano
- Center for Health Sciences and Counseling, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan;
| | - Eiji Yano
- Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan; (M.I.); (E.Y.)
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Salonsalmi A, Mauramo E, Rahkonen O, Pietiläinen O, Lahelma E. Joint association of socioeconomic circumstances and minor mental health problems with antidepressant medication. Eur J Public Health 2022; 32:535-541. [PMID: 35656708 PMCID: PMC9341681 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Disadvantageous socioeconomic circumstances and minor mental health problems have both been associated with mental disorders, such as depression, but their joint contribution remains unknown. Methods The Helsinki Health Study baseline survey (2000–02) of 40- to 60-year-old employees was linked with antidepressant medication data from registers of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The analyses were made using logistic regression with first prescribed antidepressant medication purchase during a 10-year follow-up as the outcome. Minor mental health problems were measured by the emotional well-being scale of the RAND-36. Odds ratios were calculated for joint association of the lowest quartile of the emotional well-being scale of the RAND-36 and socioeconomic circumstances. Childhood (parental education and childhood economic difficulties), conventional (education, occupational class and income) and material (housing tenure and current economic difficulties) socioeconomic circumstances were examined. This study included 5450 participants. Results Minor mental health problems dominated the joint associations. Minor mental health problems were associated with antidepressant medication irrespective of socioeconomic circumstances whereas only low income, current economic difficulties and living in rented housing showed an association without minor mental health problems at baseline. Marital status, working conditions and BMI and health behaviours had only minimal contributions to the associations. Conclusions Minor mental health problems were consistently and strongly associated with antidepressant medication and dominated the joint associations with socioeconomic circumstances. Paying attention to minor mental health problems might help prevent mental disorders such as depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino Salonsalmi
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Mauramo
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Lahelma
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Mensah A, Toivanen S, Diewald M. Working Hours, Sleep Disturbance and Self-Assessed Health in Men and Women: A Multilevel Analysis of 30 Countries in Europe. Front Public Health 2022; 10:818359. [PMID: 35462823 PMCID: PMC9018983 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.818359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study examined the gender and cross-country differences in the relationship between working hours and self-assessed health among working men and women in Europe, and further explored the moderating role of sleep disturbance in the relationship. Methods We used cross-sectional data from the 6th European Working Condition Survey on 14,603 men and 15,486 women across 30 countries in Europe. A multivariate logistic regression was applied to evaluate the relationship between working hours, sleep disturbance, and self- assessed health. In addition, we employed a two-stage multilevel logistic regression to assess the cross-country variations in the relationship between working hours and self-assessed health. Results The study showed a slightly U-shaped relationship between working hours and less-than-good self-assessed health among working adults in Europe (<31 h: aOR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00-1.25, 41-50 h: aOR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.84-1.15, and 50+ h: aOR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.07-1.59). However, working men had higher odds of reporting less-than-good self-assessed health as compared to women when they devote longer hours to paid work. The results further showed that there are cross-country variations in the association between working hours and less-than-good self-assessed health for both men and women, and that men had slightly lower variations as compared to women. Contrary to expectation, sleep disturbance did not moderate the relationship between working hours and less-than-good self-assessed health for both men and women in Europe. Conclusions Although there are gender differences and cross-country variations in the association between working hours and less-than-good self-assessed health, sleep disturbance did not moderate the associations. These findings underscore the importance for strict work time regulation and generous work-family policies that may promote good working conditions and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziz Mensah
- Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,School of Health, Care, and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
| | - Susanna Toivanen
- School of Health, Care, and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
| | - Martin Diewald
- Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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Lai ETC, Ho HC, Ho SC, Woo J. Socioeconomic Status, Physical Functioning and Mortality: Results From a Cohort Study of Older Adults in Hong Kong. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2021; 23:858-864.e5. [PMID: 34555338 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES It is inconsistent in the literature on whether inequalities of health in older age widen or narrow over time. We assessed the associations of socioeconomic status (SES), physical functioning, and mortality in an older age cohort in Hong Kong. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We recruited 2032 older adults aged 70+ in 1991 to 1992 and followed them for 10 years. METHODS SES was operationalized as education, baseline individual income, and longest-held occupation in lifetime. Physical functioning was measured by Barthel's Index for activities of daily living (ADL), from which disability was defined as ADL score <20. Mortality data were obtained from the Death Registry. Bayesian joint modeling with 2 sub-models, mixed-effect, and Cox proportional hazard model, were used to respectively model the associations of SES and disability, and SES and mortality, accounting for selection by mortality. RESULTS Education and income at baseline were not clearly related to disability, but those with lower education level and income at baseline tended to have their risks increased with time. Older adults who had been mostly economically inactive or unemployed in their lifetime had higher risk of disability [odds ratio 3.24; 95% credible interval (95%CrI) 1.29 to 7.97], and such risk increased over time. For mortality, older adults with no schooling were at higher risk compared with those with secondary education or above (hazard ratio 1.25; 95%CrI 1.00 to 1.57). Income at baseline and longest-held occupation in lifetime were not clearly related to mortality. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS We observed inequalities of health of older adults in Hong Kong that widened as they age. Community and medical interventions targeting the older adults with the lowest SES would be important to prevent their more rapid decline in physical functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T C Lai
- Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong; Institute of Health Equity, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Suzanne C Ho
- Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Jean Woo
- Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong; Institute of Health Equity, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
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Brauner C, Wöhrmann AM, Michel A. Work availability types and well-being in Germany – a latent class analysis among a nationally representative sample. WORK AND STRESS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/02678373.2021.1969475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Brauner
- Department Changing World of Work, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany
- Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne M. Wöhrmann
- Department Changing World of Work, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Alexandra Michel
- Department Changing World of Work, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany
- Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Garcia L, Jones S, Hunter R. Promoting leisure-time versus occupational physical activity: socially biased or solutions to closing the socioeconomic gap? Br J Sports Med 2021; 56:114. [PMID: 34413052 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-104746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Garcia
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Sophie Jones
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Ruth Hunter
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Tatsuse T, Sekine M, Yamada M, Cable N, Chandola T, Marmot MG. The Role of Facets of Job Satisfaction in the National and Socioeconomic Differences in Overall Job Satisfaction: A Comparison Between Studies of Civil Servants in Great Britain and Japan. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 63:679-685. [PMID: 34397660 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore national and socioeconomic differences in overall job satisfaction, we examined whether those differences can be explained by what job-related factors. METHODS Our datasets for this study are from the Whitehall II study and the Japan Civil Servant Study. Of the participants who were 5540 cases, with 3250 people from Great Britain and 2290 from Japan. RESULTS The odds ratio for job dissatisfaction was more than double in Japan compared with Britain. However, after adjusting the related factors-especially the facets of job satisfaction variables-the difference was reversed. Also, regarding the occupational differences, lower occupational grades had lower risks of overall job dissatisfaction, after adjusting for related factors. CONCLUSIONS The national and socioeconomic differences in overall job satisfaction were strongly related to facets of job satisfaction rather than job stress factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan (Dr Tatsuse, Dr Sekine, Dr Yamada); Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London (Dr Cable, Dr Marmot); Social Statistics, University of Manchester, Manchester (Dr Chandola), United Kingdom
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Nakahori N, Sekine M, Tatsuse T, Yamada M. Effect modification by workplace social capital on the association between depression and workplace and family stress: the Japanese civil servant study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:726. [PMID: 33853551 PMCID: PMC8048265 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10767-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health problems among workers have become an issue in Japan. The working environment for civil servants is becoming excessively stressful, and there is a need to prevent the onset of depression. In addition to stress at the workplace and at home, social capital has been reported as a factor associated with depression. This study examined whether workplace social capital reduces the association between depression and work-related stress or depression and home-related stress. METHODS A total of 3015 Japanese civil servants (1867 men and 1148 women) from Toyama Prefecture were included in this study. Data on depression and workplace social capital, work status, work stress, work-life balance, and physical health were collected. RESULTS The odds ratio for depression was higher for both men and women with low workplace social capital. For those with low workplace social capital, the adjusted odds ratio for depression was 2.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.16-3.98) for men and 2.46 (95% CI, 1.74-3.49) for women. After adjusting for workplace social capital, the associations between depression and low job position, low job support, and moderate family-to-work conflict declined in men and were no longer significant. For women, the strength of the association between depression and unmarried status along with moderate control at work decreased and also lost significance. When the ORs for depression were stratified by high and low workplace social capital and compared with the ORs before stratification, the ORs for depression of long working hours and work-to-family conflict increased for both men and women in the low workplace social capital group. CONCLUSIONS Workplace social capital mitigated the effect of workplace and family stress leading to depression in both men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobue Nakahori
- Faculty of Nursing Science, Tsuruga Nursing University, 78-2-1 Kizaki, Tsuruga, Fukui, 914-0814, Japan. .,Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Michikazu Sekine
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Masaaki Yamada
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
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The Contributions Made by Job Satisfaction and Psychosocial Stress to the Development and Persistence of Depressive Symptoms: A 1-Year Prospective Study. J Occup Environ Med 2020; 61:190-196. [PMID: 30395009 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000001491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that contributed to the development and persistence of depression over the course of 1 year in work environment. METHODS The subjects were 992 Japanese civil servants aged between 19 and 65 years. Baseline data and linked with data collected at 1-year follow up. RESULTS After adjusting for baseline depression levels, job satisfaction, and work-related psychosocial stress (job control and job demand) were significantly related to depression at 1-year follow up. Moreover, those who reported job dissatisfaction were at higher risk of developing depression (odds ratios [ORs]: 1.94) and persistent depression associated with low job control (ORs: 2.64) and high job demand (ORs: 2.20). CONCLUSIONS Job satisfaction, and psychosocial stress at baseline predicted development of and recovery from depression at 1-year follow up, respectively.
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Kim M, Khang YH. Inequalities in Longitudinal Health Trajectories in Middle to Later Life: a Comparison of European Countries and Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2020; 35:e141. [PMID: 32476301 PMCID: PMC7261695 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study compared inequalities in the longitudinal trajectory of health measured by latent growth curves (LGCs) in Korea and six other developed European countries. METHODS Unconditional and conditional LGCs were fitted, with standardized self-rated health (SRH) as the outcome variable. Two nationally-representative longitudinal datasets were used: the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (2007-2015; 2,761 Swedish, 2,546 Danish, 2,580 German, 2,860 French, 2,372 Spanish, and 2,924 Italian respondents) and the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006-2014; 8,465 Korean respondents). RESULTS The unconditional patterns of SRH trajectory were similar and unfavorable for women across the countries. Social factors such as education and income generally exerted a significant impact on health trends among older adults. Korea showed less favorable results for the disadvantaged than the advantaged as compared with Denmark, Germany, and France, which was consistent with theoretical expectations. In contrast, the relative SRH trajectory of the disadvantaged as against the advantaged was better as compared with Sweden and worse as compared with Spain/Italy, which was inconsistent with theories that would predict Korea's results were worse than Sweden and similar to Spain/Italy. Women had good SRH trajectory in Denmark and poorer SRH trajectory in Spain, Italy, and Korea, which were consistent. However, women in Sweden showed poorer and mixed outcome, which does not correspond to theoretical predictions. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that it is inconclusive whether Sweden and Denmark (with the most generous welfare arrangements) have better trajectories of health, and Spain, Italy, and Korea (with the least advanced state policies) have worse SRH paths among older adults. However, it can be inferred that Korean governmental policies may have produced a relatively worse context for the less-educated than the six European countries, as well as poorer settings for women than Denmark in terms of their initial SRH status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhye Kim
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Young Ho Khang
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Lallukka T, Hiilamo A, Pietiläinen O, Mänty M, Kouvonen A, Rahkonen O. Who maintains good health functioning? The contribution of social, work-related and behavioural factors to mental and physical health functioning trajectories in ageing employees. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:478-487. [PMID: 32201385 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The determinants of poor functioning and subsequent early exit from work are well established but very little is known about the positive determinants of maintaining good functioning among the ageing workforce. We investigated modifiable determinants of maintaining good mental and physical health functioning. METHODS We used prospective survey data collected across four waves among the midlife employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, 2000-2017 (n=3342). Health functioning was repeatedly measured using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) inventory. Trajectories of mental and physical health functioning were separately examined using group-based trajectory analysis. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to examine determinants of each trajectory. RESULTS Four trajectory solutions for the developmental patterns in health functioning during the follow-up period were selected, with a slightly different shape of the first trajectory for mental and physical functioning: (1) continuously low (mental), low and decreasing (physical), (2) increasing, (3) decreasing and (4) continuously high functioning. After adjustments, the employees in the continuously high mental health functioning group were more likely to have optimal job demands, high job control, no sleep problems and no binge drinking behaviour. Employees in the continuously high physical functioning group had more likely low levels of physically strenuous work and hazardous working environment and no sleep problems and normal weight. CONCLUSION High job control, good sleep and avoiding binge drinking may help maintain good mental health functioning. Low levels of physical or environmental work exposures, good sleep and recommended healthy weight may support maintenance of good physical health functioning among ageing employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tea Lallukka
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland .,Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aapo Hiilamo
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Anne Kouvonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Helsingin Yliopisto, Helsinki, Finland.,Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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15
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Brauner C, Wöhrmann AM, Frank K, Michel A. Health and work-life balance across types of work schedules: A latent class analysis. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2019; 81:102906. [PMID: 31422269 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study explores how different aspects of working time demands (e.g., shift work) and working time control (e.g., beginning/end of workday) can be clustered into distinct types of work schedules and how they relate to health and work-life balance. Data from 13,540 full-time employees interviewed in the 2015 BAuA-Working Time Survey was used. By means of latent class analysis, we extracted six types of work schedules. Subjective health was highest in the flexible extended and flexible standard schedules, both featuring high working time control. Work-life balance was highest in the flexible standard and rigid standard schedules and lowest in schedules with high working time demands, namely the extended shift, rigid all-week, and rigid extended schedules. Employees with high working time demands and low control represent risk groups prone to impairments of well-being. Overall, this study offers an intuitive taxonomy for the design of sustainable work schedules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Brauner
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Anne M Wöhrmann
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Kilian Frank
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Alexandra Michel
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany.
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16
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Saito T, Oksanen T, Shirai K, Fujiwara T, Pentti J, Vahtera J. Combined Effect of Marriage and Education on Mortality: A Cross-national Study of Older Japanese and Finnish Men and Women. J Epidemiol 2019; 30:442-449. [PMID: 31495811 PMCID: PMC7492707 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20190061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While marriage and education help maintain older adults’ health, their joint association with mortality remains unclear. This cross-national study examined the combined effect of marriage and education on the mortality of older Japanese and Finnish adults. Methods Data on 22,415 Japanese and 11,993 Finnish adults, aged 65–74 years, were obtained from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study of 2010–2012 and the Finnish Public Sector Study of 2008–2009 and 2012–2013. We followed up on respondents’ survival status for 5 years using public records. Marital status, educational level, and other variables in both datasets were harmonized. Results The Cox proportional hazards model showed that unmarried men had a higher mortality risk than married men in both countries (hazard ratio [HR] 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.79 for Japanese and HR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.29–2.91 for Finnish); no such difference was observed in women. The highest mortality risk was observed in unmarried men with tertiary education in both Japan (HR 1.85; 95% CI, 1.21–2.83) and Finland (HR 2.21; 95% CI, 1.26–3.89), when adjusted for baseline age, health-related behaviors, and illnesses. Conclusions Our findings showed similarity in the combined effect of marriage and education between Japan and Finland, differing from observations in countries with more apparent socioeconomic health disparities. Further studies should examine the reasons for the excessive mortality risk in highly educated, unmarried men in both countries and consider whether selection bias led to underestimation of the true risk in unmarried older adults with lower education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tami Saito
- Department of Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
| | | | | | - Takeo Fujiwara
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Jaana Pentti
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital
| | - Jussi Vahtera
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital
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17
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Mechergui N, Youssef I, Ben Rhouma M, Bouden F, Romdhani H, Ladhari N. Retentissement du travail de nuit sur la qualité de vie du personnel soignant. ARCH MAL PROF ENVIRO 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.admp.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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18
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Yokoyama Y, Hakulinen T, Sugimoto M, Silventoinen K, Kalland M. Maternal subjective well-being and preventive health care system in Japan and Finland. Eur J Public Health 2019; 28:652-657. [PMID: 29272457 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckx211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal well-being is an important issue not only for mothers but also for their offspring and whole families. This study aims to clarify differences in subjective well-being for mothers with infants and associated factors by comparing Japanese and Finnish mothers. Methods In Finland, 101 mothers with infants who received health check-ups at child's age 4 months participated in the study. In Japan, 505 mothers with infants who should receive health check-ups at child's age 4 months and, whose age, age of the infant and number of children matched with the Finnish mothers were selected. The factors associated with maternal subjective well-being were explored by the linear regression analysis. All Finnish mothers had individual infant health check-ups by nurses in Child Health Clinics nearly monthly. The same nurse was responsible for following up the family throughout the years. All Japanese participants received group health check-up once at child's age 3 to 4 months, and a nurse did not cover same child and their mother. Results Finnish mothers showed significantly better subjective well-being compared with Japanese mothers. Whereas 85% of Finnish mothers responded that they had obtained childcare information from public health nurses, significantly fewer Japanese mothers indicated the same response (8%). Linear regression analyses disclosed that mothers' subjective well-being was associated with country, mothers' stress and age. Conclusion Finnish mothers had better subjective well-being than Japanese mothers. Our results may indicate that the Finnish health care system supports mothers better than the Japanese health care system does.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Yokoyama
- Department of Public Health Nursing, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tuovi Hakulinen
- Children, Adolescence and Families Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Masako Sugimoto
- Department of Public Health Nursing, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Karri Silventoinen
- Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mirjam Kalland
- Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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19
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McAllister A, Fritzell S, Almroth M, Harber-Aschan L, Larsson S, Burström B. How do macro-level structural determinants affect inequalities in mental health? - a systematic review of the literature. Int J Equity Health 2018; 17:180. [PMID: 30522502 PMCID: PMC6284306 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-018-0879-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Europe and elsewhere there is rising concern about inequality in health and increased prevalence of mental ill-health. Structural determinants such as welfare state arrangements may impact on levels of mental health and social inequalities. This systematic review aims to assess the current evidence on whether structural determinants are associated with inequalities in mental health outcomes. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of quantitative studies published between 1996 and 2017 based on search results from the following databases Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts and Eric. Studies were included if they focused on inequalities (measured by socio-economic position and gender), structural determinants (i.e. public policies affecting the whole population) and showed a change or comparison in mental health status in one (or more) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. All studies were assessed for inclusion and study quality by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted and synthesised using narrative analysis. RESULTS Twenty-one articles (17 studies) met the inclusion criteria. Studies were heterogeneous with regards to methodology, mental health outcomes and policy settings. More comprehensive and gender inclusive welfare states (e.g. Nordic welfare states) had better mental health outcomes, especially for women, and less gender-related inequality. Nordic welfare regimes may also decrease inequalities between lone and couple mothers. A strong welfare state does not buffer against socio-economic inequalities in mental health outcomes. Austerity measures tended to worsen mental health and increase inequalities. Area-based initiatives and educational policy are understudied. CONCLUSION Although the literature on structural determinants and inequalities in mental health is limited, our review shows some evidence supporting the causal effects of structural determinants on mental health inequalities. The lack of evidence should not be interpreted as lack of effect. Future studies should apply innovative methods to overcome the inherent methodological challenges in this area, as structural determinants potentially affect both levels of mental health and social inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. McAllister
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S. Fritzell
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. Almroth
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L. Harber-Aschan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S. Larsson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B. Burström
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Leadership position and physician visits - results of a nationally representative longitudinal study in Germany. J Occup Med Toxicol 2018; 13:33. [PMID: 30386409 PMCID: PMC6203290 DOI: 10.1186/s12995-018-0216-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background So far, studies within the occupational field have largely concentrated on working conditions and job stressors and staff members’ or subordinate health. Only a few have focused on managers in this context, but studies are missing that explicitly look at the relation between leadership position and health care use (HCU). Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential effects of a change in leadership position on HCU in women and men longitudinally. Methods Data were drawn from a nationally representative longitudinal study in Germany (German Socio-Economic Panel, GSOEP). Data from 2009 and 2013 were used. Leadership position was divided into (i) top management, (ii) middle management, (iii) lower management, and (iv) a highly qualified specialist position. The number of physician visits in the preceding 3 months were used to quantify HCU (n = 2140 observations in regression analysis; 69% male). Results Adjusting for various potential confounders (e.g., age, self-rated health, chronic conditions, and personality factors), Poisson FE regression analysis revealed that changes from a highly qualified specialist position to the top management were associated with a decrease in the number of physician visits in men (β = .47, p < .05), but not in women. Gender differences (gender x leadership position) were significant. Conclusions Findings of this study emphasize the impact of leadership positions on the number of physician visits in men. Further study is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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21
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Yang L, Konttinen H, Martikainen P, Silventoinen K. Socioeconomic Status and Physical Functioning: A Longitudinal Study of Older Chinese People. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2018; 73:1315-1329. [PMID: 28329825 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbx010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives We aimed to assess the longitudinal associations of socioeconomic status and physical functioning using a large population-based survey data in China. Method We used four waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2002-2011). Physical functioning was assessed by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) measures. Socioeconomic status was assessed using educational attainment, occupational status, household income, financial resources, and access to health services. Latent growth curve model combined with selection model was utilized. Results High education was not associated with the baseline level or the rate of change in ADL score but predicted better baseline IADL functioning. High income was related to better IADL functioning but had no effect on the rate of change in IADL. Inadequate financial resources and unavailability of health services were mainly associated with poorer ADL and IADL functioning at baseline. White-collar occupation was unrelated to the trajectory of physical functioning. Discussion This study provides no support either for the cumulative disadvantage or age-as-leveler theory. Improving financial status and accessibility of health care services, especially in lower social classes, may help to improve the overall level of physical functioning of the older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- Population Research Unit, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Konttinen
- Social Psychology, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Martikainen
- Population Research Unit, University of Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.,Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
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22
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Ryu J, Yoon Y, Kim H, Kang CW, Jung-Choi K. The Change of Self-Rated Health According to Working Hours for Two Years by Gender. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1984. [PMID: 30208666 PMCID: PMC6164647 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to confirm the association between working hours and self-rated health, and to find the degree of changes in health level by working hours according to gender. METHODS This study was based on the 929 workers (571 men and 358 women) from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study during 2004⁻2006. To minimize the healthy worker effects, the study subjects included only those who did not have any chronic diseases, and who answered their health status as "moderate" or above in the baseline. Logistic regression analysis was used to confirm the associations between working hours and self-rated health. RESULTS In men, working hours per week of 47⁻52 h, 53⁻68 h, and >68 h were associated with 1.2, 1.3, and 1.1 times increases, respectively, in the odds ratio on worsened self-rated health, compared with the reference group (40⁻46 h). On the other hand, the risks were 1.0, 2.2, and 2.6 times increases in women. However, the results were different according to gender in the group with less than 40 h. The men with less than 40 h had a 0.9 times odds ratio on worsened self-rated health. For the women with less than 40 h, the odds ratio on self-rated health was 5.4 times higher than the reference group. CONCLUSIONS Working more than 52 h per week had a negative effect on health, regardless of gender. However, in the group with less than 40 h, the negative association between working hours and self-rated health were shown only in women. Health outcomes due to working hours may differ by gender. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore the causes of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ryu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07985, Korea.
| | - Yeogyeong Yoon
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07985, Korea.
| | - Hyunjoo Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea.
| | - Chung Won Kang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea.
| | - Kyunghee Jung-Choi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07985, Korea.
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23
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Bae SH, Hwang SW, Lee G. Work Hours, Overtime, and Break Time of Registered Nurses Working in Medium-Sized Korean Hospitals. Workplace Health Saf 2018; 66:588-596. [DOI: 10.1177/2165079918769683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study used quantitative survey data collected from registered nurses (RNs) who worked as staff nurses in medium-sized (300 beds or less) Korean hospitals. Data from 290 RNs were analyzed to examine the nature and prevalence of staff nurses’ work hours, overtime, breaks, and related work conditions. The results showed that staff nurses working in medium-sized Korean hospitals worked 9.6 hours a day on average and had 1.5 breaks daily, including mealtime. The average number of days the nurses skipped a meal due to work during the last month was 6.1. With respect to skipping bathroom breaks due to work, staff nurses reported that they could not visit the bathroom 7.3 times during the last month. Regarding work conditions, staff nurses working in intensive care units reported having longer daily work hours and were more likely to work 10 hours or more per shift. Nurses with less than 3 years of experience reported longer daily work hours and fewer breaks.
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24
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Tanaka A, Shipley MJ, Welch CA, Groce NE, Marmot MG, Kivimaki M, Singh-Manoux A, Brunner EJ. Socioeconomic inequality in recovery from poor physical and mental health in mid-life and early old age: prospective Whitehall II cohort study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2018; 72:309-313. [PMID: 29439189 PMCID: PMC5868522 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2017-209584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Few studies have examined the influence of socioeconomic status on recovery from poor physical and mental health. Methods Prospective study with four consecutive periods of follow-up (1991–2011) of 7564 civil servants (2228 women) recruited while working in London. Health was measured by the Short-Form 36 questionnaire physical and mental component scores assessed at beginning and end of each of four rounds. Poor health was defined by a score in the lowest 20% of the age–sex-specific distribution. Recovery was defined as changing from a low score at the beginning to a normal score at the end of the round. The analysis took account of retirement status, health behaviours, body mass index and prevalent chronic disease. Results Of 24 001 person-observations in the age range 39–83, a total of 8105 identified poor physical or mental health. Lower grade of employment was strongly associated with slower recovery from poor physical health (OR 0.73 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.91); trend P=0.002) in age, sex and ethnicity-adjusted analyses. The association was halved after further adjustment for health behaviours, adiposity, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and serum cholesterol (OR 0.85 (0.68 to 1.07)). In contrast, slower recovery from poor mental health was associated robustly with low employment grade even after multiple adjustment (OR 0.74 (0.59 to 0.93); trend P=0.02). Conclusions Socioeconomic inequalities in recovery from poor physical health were explained to a considerable extent by health behaviours, adiposity, SBP and serum cholesterol. These risk factors explained only part of the gradient in recovery for poor mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Tanaka
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.,Department of General Medicine and Health Science, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Martin J Shipley
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Catherine A Welch
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nora E Groce
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael G Marmot
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mika Kivimaki
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Archana Singh-Manoux
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.,INSERM U1018, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Eric J Brunner
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
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25
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Sumanen H, Pietiläinen O, Mänty M. Self-Certified Sickness Absence among Young Municipal Employees-Changes from 2002 to 2016 and Occupational Class Differences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14101131. [PMID: 28954443 PMCID: PMC5664632 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14101131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We examined changes in self-certified, one-to-three day sickness absence (SA) among young employees from 2002 to 2016 and the magnitude of occupational class differences during that period. All 18–34-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland were included (2002–2016, n = ~11,725 per year). Employer’s personnel and SA registers were used. Occupational class was categorized to four groups. Changes in self-certified SA from 2002 to 2016 were analyzed with Joinpoint regression and the magnitudes of occupational class differences were estimated with the relative index of inequality (RII). Most of the trends first increased and turned to decrease in 2007/2010. Managers and professionals had the least amount of SA, but steadily increasing trends were observed among men. Self-certified SA followed only partially the typical socioeconomic gradient, as routine non-manuals had the highest levels of SA. The magnitude of occupational class differences in self-certified SA was stable during the study period only among women. Self-certified SA and occupational class differences have increased in recent years among men in the lower occupational classes. Socioeconomic differences exist in self-certified SA among young employees, but gradient is only partial. Overall, high amounts of self-certified SA especially in the lower occupational classes require further studies and preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilla Sumanen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Health Care and Emergency Care, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, FIN-48220 Kotka, Finland.
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Minna Mänty
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Research, Development and Innovation, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, FIN-01300 Vantaa, Finland.
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Sumanen H, Lahelma E, Pietiläinen O, Rahkonen O. The Magnitude of Occupational Class Differences in Sickness Absence: 15-Year Trends among Young and Middle-Aged Municipal Employees. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14060625. [PMID: 28598380 PMCID: PMC5486311 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14060625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Background: Our aim was to examine the magnitude of relative occupational class differences in sickness absence (SA) days over a 15-year period among female and male municipal employees in two age-groups. Methods: 18-34 and 35-59-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki from 2002 to 2016 were included in our data (n = ~37,500 per year). Occupational class was classified into four groups. The magnitude of relative occupational class differences in SA was studied using the relative index of inequality (RII). Results: The relative occupational class differences were larger among older than younger employees; the largest differences were among 35-59-year-old men. Among women in both age-groups the relative class differences remained stable during 2002-2016. Among younger and older men, the differences were larger during the beginning of study period than in the end. Among women in both age-groups the RII values were between 2.19 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.98, 2.42) and 3.60 (95% CI 3.28, 3.95). The corresponding differences varied from 3.74 (95% CI 3.13, 4.48) to 1.68 (95% CI 1.44, 1.97) among younger and from 6.43 (95% CI 5.85, 7.06) to 3.31 (95% CI 2.98, 3.68) among older men. CONCLUSIONS Relative occupational class differences were persistent among employees irrespective of age group and gender. Preventive measures should be started at young age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilla Sumanen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Eero Lahelma
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B), FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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Abstract
This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data extracted from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey. Data from 8,931 full-time (i.e., 21 hours or more per week) women workers aged 18 to 85 years were analyzed to examine the nature and prevalence of immigrant female workers’ work hours, overtime, and related factors in the United States compared to U.S.-born female workers. Results showed that foreign-born female workers did not work longer hours than U.S.-born female workers. Foreign-born female workers who reported poor health worked longer hours than did their U.S.-born counterparts. Foreign-born female workers who were self-employed or worked in family businesses tended to work longer hours than did those women who worked for private companies or nonprofit organizations.
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Duchaine CS, Ndjaboué R, Levesque M, Vézina M, Trudel X, Gilbert-Ouimet M, Dionne CE, Mâsse B, Pearce N, Brisson C. Psychosocial work factors and social inequalities in psychological distress: a population-based study. BMC Public Health 2017; 17:91. [PMID: 28100221 PMCID: PMC5241997 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4014-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health problems (MHP) are the leading cause of disability worldwide. The inverse association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and MHP has been well documented. There is prospective evidence that factors from the work environment, including adverse psychosocial work factors, could contribute to the development of MHP including psychological distress. However, the contribution of psychosocial work factors to social inequalities in MHP remains unclear. This study evaluates the contribution of psychosocial work factors from two highly supported models, the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) and the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models to SEP inequalities of psychological distress in men and women from a population-based sample of Quebec workers. METHODS Data were collected during a survey on working conditions, health and safety at work. SEP was evaluated using education, occupation and household income. Psychosocial work factors and psychological distress were assessed using validated instruments. Mean differences (MD) in the score of psychological distress were estimated separately for men and women. RESULTS Low education level and low household income were associated with psychological distress among men (MD, 0.56 (95% CI 0.06; 1.05) and 1.26 (95% CI 0.79; 1.73) respectively). In men, the contribution of psychosocial work factors from the DCS and the ERI models to the association between household income and psychological distress ranged from 9% to 24%. No clear inequalities were observed among women. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that psychosocial work factors from the DCS and the ERI models contribute to explain a part of social inequalities in psychological distress among men. Psychosocial factors at work are frequent and modifiable. The present study supports the relevance of targeting these factors for the primary prevention of MHP and for health policies aiming to reduce social inequalities in mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline S. Duchaine
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Ruth Ndjaboué
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Manon Levesque
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Michel Vézina
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Xavier Trudel
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Clermont E. Dionne
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
| | - Benoît Mâsse
- Social and preventive medicine department, Public Health School, Montreal University, 7101 avenue du Parc, Montreal, H3N 1X9 QC Canada
- Research Center CHU-Ste-Justine, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal, H3T 1C5 Québec Canada
| | - Neil Pearce
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, UK
| | - Chantal Brisson
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec city, G1S 4L8 QC Canada
- Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec city, G1V 0A6 QC Canada
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Country specific associations between social contact and mental health: evidence from civil servant studies across Great Britain, Japan and Finland. Public Health 2016; 137:139-46. [PMID: 27040913 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known about which component, such as social contact of social networks is associated with mental health or whether such an association can be observed across countries. This study examined whether the association between frequent social contact and mental health differs by composition (relatives or friends) and whether the associations are similar across three occupational cohorts from Great Britain, Japan, and Finland. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of data from three prospective cohort studies. METHODS Participants were civil servants of a prospective cohort study based in London (Men: n = 4519; Women: n = 1756), in the West Coast of Japan (Men: n = 2571; Women: n = 1102), and in Helsinki, Finland (Men: n = 1181; Women: n = 5633); we included the information on study variables which is complete. Mental health function was the study outcome, indicated by the total score from the Mental Health Component on the Short Form Health Survey36. Participants reported frequencies of contacts with their relatives or friends via a questionnaire. Age, marital status, and occupational position were treated as confounders in this study. RESULTS Findings from multiple regression showed that the associations between social contact and mental health function were different depending on country of origin and gender. Among British or Japanese men, frequent contact with both friends and relatives was positively associated with their mental health function, while only social contact with friends was significantly associated with mental health of Finnish men. In women, the patterns of the associations between social contact and mental health were more distinctive: friends for Great Britain, relatives for Japan, and friends and relatives for Finland. These significant associations were independent of the confounders. CONCLUSIONS Social contact was related to mental health of working people; however, culture and gender are likely to be tapped into.
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Lahelma E, Pietiläinen O, Ferrie J, Kivimäki M, Lahti J, Marmot M, Rahkonen O, Sekine M, Shipley M, Tatsuse T, Lallukka T. Changes Over Time in Absolute and Relative Socioeconomic Differences in Smoking: A Comparison of Cohort Studies From Britain, Finland, and Japan. Nicotine Tob Res 2016; 18:1697-704. [PMID: 26764256 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntw004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Socioeconomic differences in smoking over time and across national contexts are poorly understood. We assessed the magnitude of relative and absolute social class differences in smoking in cohorts from Britain, Finland, and Japan over 5-7 years. METHODS The British Whitehall II study (n = 4350), Finnish Helsinki Health Study (n = 6328), and Japanese Civil Servants Study (n = 1993) all included employed men and women aged 35-68 at baseline in 1997-2002. Follow-up was in 2003-2007 (mean follow-up 5.1, 6.5, and 3.6 years, respectively). Occupational social class (managers, professionals and clerical employees) was measured at baseline. Current smoking and covariates (age, marital status, body mass index, and self-rated health) were measured at baseline and follow-up. We assessed relative social class differences using the Relative Index of Inequality and absolute differences using the Slope Index of Inequality. RESULTS Social class differences in smoking were found in Britain and Finland, but not in Japan. Age-adjusted relative differences at baseline ranged from Relative Index of Inequality 3.08 (95% confidence interval 1.99-4.78) among Finnish men to 2.32 (1.24-4.32) among British women, with differences at follow-up greater by 8%-58%. Absolute differences remained stable and varied from Slope Index of Inequality 0.27 (0.15-0.40) among Finnish men to 0.10 (0.03-0.16) among British women. Further adjustment for covariates had modest effects on inequality indices. CONCLUSIONS Large social class differences in smoking persisted among British and Finnish men and women, with widening tendencies in relative differences over time. No differences could be confirmed among Japanese men or women. IMPLICATIONS Changes over time in social class differences in smoking are poorly understood across countries. Our study focused on employees from Britain, Finland and Japan, and found relative and absolute and class differences among British and Finnish men and women. Key covariates had modest effects on the differences. Relative differences tended to widen over the 4- to 7-year follow-up, whereas absolute differences remained stable. In contrast, class differences in smoking among Japanese men or women were not found. Britain and Finland are at the late stage of the smoking epidemic model, whereas Japan may not follow the same model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero Lahelma
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jane Ferrie
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK; School of Community and Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Mika Kivimäki
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK; Centre of Expertise for Development of Work and Organizations, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jouni Lahti
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Marmot
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michikazu Sekine
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Martin Shipley
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tea Lallukka
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Centre of Expertise for Development of Work and Organizations, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
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Lahti J, Sabia S, Singh-Manoux A, Kivimäki M, Tatsuse T, Yamada M, Sekine M, Lallukka T. Leisure time physical activity and subsequent physical and mental health functioning among midlife Finnish, British and Japanese employees: a follow-up study in three occupational cohorts. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e009788. [PMID: 26739736 PMCID: PMC4716250 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine whether leisure time physical activity contributes to subsequent physical and mental health functioning among midlife employees. The associations were tested in three occupational cohorts from Finland, Britain and Japan. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Finland, Britain and Japan. PARTICIPANTS Prospective employee cohorts from the Finnish Helsinki Health Study (2000-2002 and 2007, n=5958), British Whitehall II study (1997-1999 and 2003-2004, n=4142) and Japanese Civil Servants Study (1998-1999 and 2003, n=1768) were used. Leisure time physical activity was classified into three groups: inactive, moderately active and vigorously active. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Mean scores of physical and mental health functioning (SF-36) at follow-up were examined. RESULTS Physical activity was associated with better subsequent physical health functioning in all three cohorts, however, with varying magnitude and some gender differences. Differences were the clearest among Finnish women (inactive: 46.0, vigorously active: 49.5) and men (inactive: 47.8, active vigorous: 51.1) and British women (inactive: 47.3, active vigorous: 50.4). In mental health functioning, the differences were generally smaller and not that clearly related to the intensity of physical activity. Emerging differences in health functioning were relatively small. CONCLUSIONS Vigorous physical activity was associated with better subsequent physical health functioning in all three cohorts with varying magnitude. For mental health functioning, the intensity of physical activity was less important. Promoting leisure time physical activity may prove useful for the maintenance of health functioning among midlife employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jouni Lahti
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Séverine Sabia
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Archana Singh-Manoux
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mika Kivimäki
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Masaaki Yamada
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Michikazu Sekine
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tea Lallukka
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
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van der Wel KA, Bambra C, Dragano N, Eikemo TA, Lunau T. Risk and resilience: health inequalities, working conditions and sickness benefit arrangements: an analysis of the 2010 European Working Conditions survey. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2015; 37:1157-1172. [PMID: 26094941 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In this article we ask whether the level of sickness benefit provision protects the health of employees, particularly those who are most exposed to hazardous working conditions or who have a little education. The study uses the European Working Condition Survey that includes information on 20,626 individuals from 28 countries. Health was measured by self-reported mental wellbeing and self-rated general health. Country-level sickness benefit provision was constructed using spending data from Eurostat. Group-specific associations were fitted using cross-level interaction terms between sickness benefit provision and physical and psychosocial working conditions respectively, as well as those with little education. The mental wellbeing of employees exposed to psychosocial job strain and physical hazards, or who had little education, was better in countries that offer more generous sickness benefit. These results were found in both men and women and were robust to the inclusion of GDP and country fixed effects. In the analyses of self-reported general health, few group-specific associations were found. This article concludes that generous sickness benefit provision may strengthen employee's resilience against mental health risks at work and risks associated with little education. Consequently, in countries with a generous provision of sickness benefit, social inequalities in mental health are smaller.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clare Bambra
- Department of Geography, Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University
| | - Nico Dragano
- Institute for Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Centre for Health and Society, University of Düsseldorf
| | - Terje A Eikemo
- Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
| | - Thorsten Lunau
- Institute for Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Centre for Health and Society, University of Düsseldorf
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Umeda M, McMunn A, Cable N, Hashimoto H, Kawakami N, Marmot M. Does an advantageous occupational position make women happier in contemporary Japan? Findings from the Japanese Study of Health, Occupation, and Psychosocial Factors Related Equity (J-HOPE). SSM Popul Health 2015; 1:8-15. [PMID: 29349116 PMCID: PMC5757939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Occupational position is one of the determinants of psychological health, but this association may differ for men and women depending on the social context. In contemporary Japanese society, occupational gender segregation persists despite increased numbers of women participating in the labour market, which may contribute to gender specific patterns in the prevalence of poor psychological health. The present study examined gender specific associations between occupational position and psychological health in Japan, and the potential mediating effects of job control and effort–reward imbalance in these associations. We used data obtained from 7123 men and 2222 women, aged between 18 and 65 years, who participated in an occupational cohort study, the Japanese Study of Health, Occupation, and Psychosocial Factors Related Equity (J-HOPE), between 2011 and 2012. We used logistic regression to examine the association between occupational position and poor psychological health, adjusted for age, working hours, household income and education, as well as psychosocial work characteristics (job control and effort–reward imbalance). The prevalence of poor psychological health increased from manual/service occupations (23%) to professionals/managers (38%) among women, while it did not vary by occupational position among men. In women, the significant association between occupational position and psychological health was not explained by job control, but was attenuated by effort–reward imbalance. Our findings suggest that Japanese women in more advantaged occupational positions are likely to be at a greater risk for poor psychological health due to higher levels of effort–reward imbalance at work. In Japan, occupational position was associated with women's psychological health. Women in higher positions were at greater risk for poorer psychological health. The association was largely explained by high level of their effort-reward imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Umeda
- Department of Public Health Nursing, St. Luke׳s International University, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0044, Japan.,Department of Mental Health, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Anne McMunn
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Noriko Cable
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Hideki Hashimoto
- Department of Health and Social Behaviors, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Norito Kawakami
- Department of Mental Health, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Michael Marmot
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Kim H, Kim JH, Jang YJ, Bae JY. Gender Differences in the Effects of Job Control and Demands on the Health of Korean Manual Workers. Health Care Women Int 2015; 37:288-300. [DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2014.980889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Lahelma E, Pietiläinen O, Rahkonen O, Kivimäki M, Martikainen P, Ferrie J, Marmot M, Shipley M, Sekine M, Tatsuse T, Lallukka T. Social class inequalities in health among occupational cohorts from Finland, Britain and Japan: a follow up study. Health Place 2014; 31:173-9. [PMID: 25545770 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We examined whether relative occupational social class inequalities in physical health functioning widen, narrow or remain stable among white collar employees from three affluent countries. Health functioning was assessed twice in occupational cohorts from Britain (1997-1999 and 2003-2004), Finland (2000-2002 and 2007) and Japan (1998-1999 and 2003). Widening inequalities were seen for British and Finnish men, whereas inequalities among British and Finnish women remained relatively stable. Japanese women showed reverse inequalities at follow up, but no health inequalities were seen among Japanese men. Health behaviours and social relations explained 4-37% of the magnitude in health inequalities, but not their widening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero Lahelma
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Mika Kivimäki
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Pekka Martikainen
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Jane Ferrie
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Michael Marmot
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Martin Shipley
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Michikazu Sekine
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Tea Lallukka
- Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
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Fujimura Y, Sekine M, Tatsuse T. Sex differences in factors contributing to family-to-work and work-to-family conflict in Japanese civil servants. J Occup Health 2014; 56:485-97. [PMID: 25374422 DOI: 10.1539/joh.14-0045-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As the number of dual-earner couples in Japan has increased, work-life balance has become important. This study aimed to examine the factors that contribute to work-family conflict. METHODS The participants included 3,594 (2,332 men and 1,262 women) civil servants aged 20-59 working for local government on the west coast of Japan. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate whether work, family, or lifestyle characteristics were associated with work-family conflict. RESULTS For men, family-to-work conflict was associated with being elderly, having low-grade employment, working long hours, raising children, and sleeping shorter hours. For women, being married and raising children were strong determinants of family-to-work conflict, and being middle-aged, working long hours, and sleeping shorter hours were also associated with this type of conflict. Regarding work-to-family conflict, working long hours was the strongest determinant of conflict in both sexes. In men, being elderly, living with family, eating dinner late, and sleeping shorter hours were also associated with work-to-family conflict. In women, having high-grade employment, being married, raising children, and eating dinner late were associated with work-to-family conflict. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that working long hours was the primary determinant of work-to-family conflict in both sexes and that being married and raising children were strong factors of family-to-work conflict in women only. Sex differences may reflect divergence of the social and domestic roles of men and women in Japanese society. To improve the work-life balance, general and sex-specific health policies may be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Fujimura
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama
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Sekine M, Tatsuse T, Cable N, Chandola T, Marmot M. U-shaped associations between time in bed and the physical and mental functioning of Japanese civil servants: the roles of work, family, behavioral and sleep quality characteristics. Sleep Med 2014; 15:1122-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 04/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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SEKINE M, TATSUSE T, CABLE N, CHANDOLA T, MARMOT M. Socioeconomic and gender inequalities in job dissatisfaction among Japanese civil servants: the roles of work, family and personality characteristics. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 2014; 52:498-511. [PMID: 25055848 PMCID: PMC4273018 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2014-0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study examines (1) whether there are employment grade and gender differences in job dissatisfaction and (2) whether work, family, and personality characteristics explain grade and gender differences in job dissatisfaction. The participants were 3,812 civil servants, aged 20-65, working at a local government in Japan. In both males and females, low control, low social support, work-to-family conflict, type A behaviour pattern and negative affectivity were significantly associated with job dissatisfaction. In females, high demands, long work hours and being unmarried were also associated with job dissatisfaction. Among males, in comparison with the highest grade employees, the age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for job dissatisfaction in the lowest grade employees was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.40-2.59). The grade differences reduced to 1.08 (0.76-1.54) after adjustment for work, family and personality characteristics. Among females, similar grade differences were observed, although the differences were not statistically significant. In comparison with males, the age-adjusted OR in females for job dissatisfaction was 1.32 (1.14-1.52). This gender difference was reduced to 0.95 (0.79-1.14) following adjustment for the other factors. The majority of employees belong to low to middle grades, and female employees have increased. Reducing grade and gender differences in work and family characteristics is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michikazu SEKINE
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of
Toyama, Japan
| | - Takashi TATSUSE
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of
Toyama, Japan
| | - Noriko CABLE
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University
College London, UK
| | - Tarani CHANDOLA
- The Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research
(CCSR), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Michael MARMOT
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University
College London, UK
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Landsbergis PA, Grzywacz JG, LaMontagne AD. Work organization, job insecurity, and occupational health disparities. Am J Ind Med 2014; 57:495-515. [PMID: 23074099 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in employment conditions in the global economy over the past 30 years have led to increased job insecurity and other work organization hazards. These hazards may play a role in creating and sustaining occupational health disparities by socioeconomic position, gender, race, ethnicity, and immigration status. METHODS A conceptual model was developed to guide the review of 103 relevant articles or chapters on the role of work organization and occupational health disparities identified through a comprehensive search conducted by NIOSH. A second review was conducted of employment and workplace policies and programs designed to reduce the health and safety risks due to job insecurity and other work organization hazards. RESULTS There is consistent evidence that workers in lower socioeconomic or social class positions are exposed to greater job insecurity and other work organization hazards than workers in higher socioeconomic positions. Likewise, racial and ethnic minorities and immigrants are exposed to greater job insecurity. Limited research examining the effects of interventions targeting work organization hazards on disparities has been conducted; nonetheless, intervention strategies are available and evidence suggests they are effective. CONCLUSIONS Job insecurity and work organization hazards play a role in creating and sustaining occupational health disparities. Employment and workplace policies and programs have the potential to reduce these hazards, and to reduce disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Landsbergis
- State University of New York-Downstate School of Public Health; Brooklyn New York
| | | | - Anthony D. LaMontagne
- Melbourne School of Population Health; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
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Hiyoshi A, Fukuda Y, Shipley MJ, Brunner EJ. Health inequalities in Japan: the role of material, psychosocial, social relational and behavioural factors. Soc Sci Med 2014; 104:201-9. [PMID: 24581079 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The extent that risk factors, identified in Western countries, account for health inequalities in Japan remains unclear. We analysed a nationally representative sample (Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions surveyed in 2001 (n = 40,243)). The cross-sectional association between self-rated fair or poor health and household income and a theory-based occupational social class was summarised using the relative index of inequality [RII]. The percentage attenuation in RII accounted for by candidate contributory factors - material, psychosocial, social relational and behavioural - was computed. The results showed that the RII for household income based on self-rated fair or poor health was reduced after including the four candidate contributory factors in the model by 20% (95% CI 2.1, 43.6) and 44% (95% CI 18.2, 92.5) in men and women, respectively. The RII for the Japanese Socioeconomic Classification [J-SEC] was reduced, not significantly, by 22% (95% CI -6.3, 100.0) in men in the corresponding model, while J-SEC was not associated with self-rated health in women. Material factors produced the most consistent and strong attenuation in RII for both socioeconomic indicators, while the contributions attributable to behaviour alone were modest. Social relational factors consistently attenuated the RII for both socioeconomic indicators in men whereas they did not make an independent contribution in women. The influence of perceived stress was inconsistent and depended on the socioeconomic indicator used. In summary, social inequalities in self-rated fair or poor health were reduced to a degree by the factors included. The results indicate that the levelling of health across the socioeconomic hierarchy needs to consider a wide range of factors, including material and psychosocial factors, in addition to the behavioural factors upon which the current public health policies in Japan focus. The analyses in this study need to be replicated using a longitudinal study design to confirm the roles of different factors in health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Hiyoshi
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden; School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Yoshiharu Fukuda
- Department of Community Health and Medicine, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan
| | - Martin J Shipley
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric J Brunner
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Bambra C, Lunau T, Van der Wel KA, Eikemo TA, Dragano N. Work, health, and welfare: the association between working conditions, welfare states, and self-reported general health in Europe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES : PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION, EVALUATION 2014; 44:113-36. [PMID: 24684087 DOI: 10.2190/hs.44.1.g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This article is the first to examine the association between self-reported general health and a wide range of working conditions at the European level and by type of welfare state regime. Data for 21,705 men and women ages 16 to 60 from 27 European countries were obtained from the 2010 European Working Conditions Survey. The influence of individual-level sociodemographic, physical, and psychosocial working conditions and of the organization of work were assessed in multilevel logistic regression analyses, with additional stratification by welfare state regime type (Anglo-Saxon, Bismarckian, Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Southern). At the European level, we found that "not good" general health was more likely to be reported by workers more exposed to hazardous working conditions. Most notably, tiring working positions, job strain, and temporary job contracts were strongly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting "not good" health. Analysis by welfare state regime found that only tiring or painful working conditions were consistently associated with worse self-reported health in all regimes. There was no evidence that the Scandinavian welfare regime protected against the adverse health effects of poor working conditions. The article concludes by examining the implications for comparative occupational health research.
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Bergqvist K, Yngwe MA, Lundberg O. Understanding the role of welfare state characteristics for health and inequalities - an analytical review. BMC Public Health 2013; 13:1234. [PMID: 24369852 PMCID: PMC3909317 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The past decade has witnessed a growing body of research on welfare state characteristics and health inequalities but the picture is, despite this, inconsistent. We aim to review this research by focusing on theoretical and methodological differences between studies that at least in part may lead to these mixed findings. Methods Three reviews and relevant bibliographies were manually explored in order to find studies for the review. Related articles were searched for in PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Database searches were done in PubMed and Web of Science. The search period was restricted to 2005-01-01 to 2013-02-28. Fifty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Results Three main approaches to comparative welfare state research are identified; the Regime approach, the Institutional approach, and the Expenditure approach. The Regime approach is the most common and regardless of the empirical regime theory employed and the amendments made to these, results are diverse and contradictory. When stratifying studies according to other features, not much added clarity is achieved. The Institutional approach shows more consistent results; generous policies and benefits seem to be associated with health in a positive way for all people in a population, not only those who are directly affected or targeted. The Expenditure approach finds that social and health spending is associated with increased levels of health and smaller health inequalities in one way or another but the studies are few in numbers making it somewhat difficult to get coherent results. Conclusions Based on earlier reviews and our results we suggest that future research should focus less on welfare regimes and health inequalities and more on a multitude of different types of studies, including larger analyses of social spending and social rights in various policy areas and how these are linked to health in different social strata. But, we also need more detailed evaluation of specific programmes or interventions, as well as more qualitative analyses of the experiences of different types of policies among the people and families that need to draw on the collective resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kersti Bergqvist
- Centre for Health Equity Studies, Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Campos-Serna J, Ronda-Pérez E, Moen BE, Artazcoz L, Benavides FG. Welfare state regimes and gender inequalities in the exposure to work-related psychosocial hazards. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2013; 19:179-95. [DOI: 10.1179/2049396713y.0000000030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Welmer AK, Kåreholt I, Rydwik E, Angleman S, Wang HX. Education-related differences in physical performance after age 60: a cross-sectional study assessing variation by age, gender and occupation. BMC Public Health 2013; 13:641. [PMID: 23842209 PMCID: PMC3733740 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Having a low level of education has been associated with worse physical performance. However, it is unclear whether this association varies by age, gender or the occupational categories of manual and non-manual work. This study examined whether there are education-related differences across four dimensions of physical performance by age, gender or occupational class and to what extent chronic diseases and lifestyle-related factors may explain such differences. Methods Participants were a random sample of 3212 people, 60 years and older, both living in their own homes and in institutions, from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, in Kungsholmen, Stockholm. Trained nurses assessed physical performance in grip strength, walking speed, balance and chair stands, and gathered data on education, occupation and lifestyle-related factors, such as physical exercise, body mass index, smoking and alcohol consumption. Diagnoses of chronic diseases were made by the examining physician. Results Censored normal regression analyses showed that persons with university education had better grip strength, balance, chair stand time and walking speed than people with elementary school education. The differences in balance and walking speed remained statistically significant (p < 0.05) after adjustment for chronic diseases and lifestyle. However, age-stratified analyses revealed that the differences were no longer statistically significant in advanced age (80+ years). Gender-stratified analyses revealed that women with university education had significantly better grip strength, balance and walking speed compared to women with elementary school education and men with university education had significantly better chair stands and walking speed compared to men with elementary school education in multivariate adjusted models. Further analyses stratified by gender and occupational class suggested that the education-related difference in grip strength was only evident among female manual workers, while the difference in balance and walking speed was only evident among female and male non-manual workers, respectively. Conclusions Higher education was associated with better lower extremity performance in people aged 60 to 80, but not in advanced age (80+ years). Our results indicate that higher education is associated with better grip strength among female manual workers and with better balance and walking speed among female and male non-manual workers, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Karin Welmer
- Aging Research Center (ARC), Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, 16, S-113 30 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Moen P, Kelly EL, Lam J. Healthy work revisited: do changes in time strain predict well-being? J Occup Health Psychol 2013; 18:157-72. [PMID: 23506547 DOI: 10.1037/a0031804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Building on Karasek and Theorell (R. Karasek & T. Theorell, 1990, Healthy work: Stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life, New York, NY: Basic Books), we theorized and tested the relationship between time strain (work-time demands and control) and seven self-reported health outcomes. We drew on survey data from 550 employees fielded before and 6 months after the implementation of an organizational intervention, the results only work environment (ROWE) in a white-collar organization. Cross-sectional (wave 1) models showed psychological time demands and time control measures were related to health outcomes in expected directions. The ROWE intervention did not predict changes in psychological time demands by wave 2, but did predict increased time control (a sense of time adequacy and schedule control). Statistical models revealed increases in psychological time demands and time adequacy predicted changes in positive (energy, mastery, psychological well-being, self-assessed health) and negative (emotional exhaustion, somatic symptoms, psychological distress) outcomes in expected directions, net of job and home demands and covariates. This study demonstrates the value of including time strain in investigations of the health effects of job conditions. Results encourage longitudinal models of change in psychological time demands as well as time control, along with the development and testing of interventions aimed at reducing time strain in different populations of workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Moen
- Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
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Xu J, Qiu J, Chen J, Zou L, Feng L, Lu Y, Wei Q, Zhang J. Lifestyle and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study among civil servants in China. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:330. [PMID: 22559315 PMCID: PMC3432623 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been increasingly acknowledged as a valid and appropriate indicator of public health and chronic morbidity. However, limited research was conducted among Chinese civil servants owing to the different lifestyle. The aim of the study was to evaluate the HRQoL among Chinese civil servants and to identify factors might be associated with their HRQoL. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate HRQoL of 15,000 civil servants in China using stratified random sampling methods. Independent-Samples t-Test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple stepwise regression were used to analyse the influencing factors and the HRQoL of the civil servants. Results A univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences among physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and TS between lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, having breakfast, sleep time, physical exercise, work time, operating computers, and sedentariness (P < 0.05). Multiple stepwise regressions showed that there were significant differences among TS between lifestyle factors, such as breakfast, sleep time, physical exercise, operating computers, sedentariness, work time, and drinking (P < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, using Short Form 36 items (SF-36), we assessed the association of HRQoL with lifestyle factors, including smoking, drinking alcohol, having breakfast, sleep time, physical exercise, work time, operating computers, and sedentariness in China. The performance of the questionnaire in the large-scale survey is satisfactory and provides a large picture of the HRQoL status in Chinese civil servants. Our results indicate that lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, having breakfast, sleep time, physical exercise, work time, operating computers, and sedentariness affect the HRQoL of civil servants in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- Department of Sanitation Economy Administration, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, PR China.
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Nishikitani M, Tsurugano S, Inoue M, Yano E. Effect of unequal employment status on workers' health: results from a Japanese national survey. Soc Sci Med 2012; 75:439-51. [PMID: 22357298 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/21/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses the possibility of a period effect on Japanese workers' health and its association with historical changes in the work environment. We used multi-year national cross-sectional surveys, the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions for 2001, 2004, and 2007, and estimated the period effect on the health of employed workers aged 18-65 years. The prevalence of ill-health indicators (poor self-rated health status, subjective symptoms, and the number of respondents receiving consultations from medical doctors and other health professionals) significantly increased during this period. Deteriorating trends in these health indicators persisted after adjusting for age and cohort effects and for individual factors such as employment, marital, and child-rearing status. Furthermore, after adjusting for income level as an individual factor, deteriorating trends remained for the poor self-rated health status of male employees, subjective symptoms of female employees, and receiving medical consultations for both genders. The health status of employed workers in Japan deteriorated, especially from 2004 to 2007, regardless of age and cohort effects. After taking individual socio-economic factors and the effects of the recession on society into consideration, we hypothesized a posteriori that the increase in precarious non-regular work may be the main factor underlying this period effect and may be the cause of the deterioration in workers' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Nishikitani
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Butterworth P, Leach LS, Rodgers B, Broom DH, Olesen SC, Strazdins L. Psychosocial job adversity and health in Australia: analysis of data from the HILDA Survey. Aust N Z J Public Health 2011; 35:564-71. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00771.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Muntaner C, Borrell C, Ng E, Chung H, Espelt A, Rodriguez-Sanz M, Benach J, O'Campo P. Politics, welfare regimes, and population health: controversies and evidence. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2011; 33:946-64. [PMID: 21899562 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2011.01339.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, a research area has emerged within social determinants of health that examines the role of politics, expressed as political traditions/parties and welfare state characteristics, on population health. To better understand and synthesise this growing body of evidence, the present literature review, informed by a political economy of health and welfare regimes framework, located 73 empirical and comparative studies on politics and health, meeting our inclusion criteria in three databases: PubMed (1948-), Sociological Abstracts (1953-), and ISI Web of Science (1900-). We identified two major research programmes, welfare regimes and democracy, and two emerging programmes, political tradition and globalisation. Primary findings include: (1) left and egalitarian political traditions on population health are the most salutary, consistent, and substantial; (2) the health impacts of advanced and liberal democracies are also positive and large; (3) welfare regime studies, primarily conducted among wealthy countries, find that social democratic regimes tend to fare best with absolute health outcomes yet consistently in terms of relative health inequalities; and (4) globalisation defined as dependency indicators such as trade, foreign investment, and national debt is negatively associated with population health. We end by discussing epistemological, theoretical, and methodological issues for consideration for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Muntaner
- Social Science and Health Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Global Health Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Sekine M, Tatsuse T, Kagamimori S, Chandola T, Cable N, Marmot M, Martikainen P, Lallukka T, Rahkonen O, Lahelma E. Sex inequalities in physical and mental functioning of British, Finnish, and Japanese civil servants: role of job demand, control and work hours. Soc Sci Med 2011; 73:595-603. [PMID: 21782303 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2010] [Revised: 01/25/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In general, women report more physical and mental symptoms than men. International comparisons of countries with different welfare state regimes may provide further understanding of the social determinants of sex inequalities in health. This study aims to evaluate (1) whether there are sex inequalities in health functioning as measured by the Short Form 36 (SF-36), and (2) whether work characteristics contribute to the sex inequalities in health among employees from Britain, Finland, and Japan, representing liberal, social democratic, and conservative welfare state regimes, respectively. The participants were 7340 (5122 men and 2218 women) British employees, 2297 (1638 men and 659 women) Japanese employees, and 8164 (1649 men and 6515 women) Finnish employees. All the participants were civil servants aged 40-60 years. We found that more women than men tended to have disadvantaged work characteristics (i.e. low employment grade, low job control, high job demands, and long work hours) but such sex differences were relatively smaller among employees from Finland, where more gender equal policies exist than Britain and Japan. The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of women for poor physical functioning was the largest for British women (OR = 2.08), followed by for Japanese women (OR = 1.72), and then for Finnish women (OR = 1.51). The age-adjusted OR of women for poor mental functioning was the largest for Japanese women (OR = 1.91), followed by for British women (OR = 1.45), and then for Finnish women (OR = 1.07). Thus, sex differences in physical and mental health was the smallest in the Finnish population. The larger the sex differences in work characteristics, the larger the sex differences in health and the reduction in the sex differences in health after adjustment for work characteristics. These results suggest that egalitarian and gender equal policies may contribute to smaller sex differences in health, through smaller differences in disadvantaged work characteristics between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michikazu Sekine
- Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, University of Toyama, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Takashi Tatsuse
- Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, University of Toyama, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Sadanobu Kagamimori
- Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, University of Toyama, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Tarani Chandola
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Noriko Cable
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Michael Marmot
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Pekka Martikainen
- Department of Sociology, Population Research Unit, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 18, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tea Lallukka
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Lahelma
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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