Stress management and musculoskeletal disorders in knowledge workers: The possible mediating effects of stress hormones

Innovations in human resources management of higher education institutions: technostress factors

The study on technostress is very significant in today's knowledge-based society. Technostress, which has developed due to the information-technology explosion over the past decade, plays an increasingly critical role in people’s lives. The study shows that the flood of information and the increased use of more technological tools could cause frustration, anxiety, and fear. The timeliness of the topic lies in the fact that if society does not pay attention to this new kind of public disease now, it would have a negative impact on people's health, quality of life, and efficiency at the corporate level. The study's theoretical background was analyzed by reviewing the international scientific literature available on the subject of technostress. The research aims to explore the relationship between factors belonging to the group of technostress creators concerning Hungarian higher educational institutions. In the study, the authors set up a research model to explore the relationship between technostress creators, which was examined using a quantitative questionnaire query. The study covered 237 employees working in higher education in Hungary. The results were analyzed in the SPSS 22 statistical program. During the evaluation, linear regression analysis was used to explore these relationships. The results demonstrated that the five components of technostress are techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity, and techno-uncertainty. These frequently interact with each other in higher education. The results of the study point to the fact that the five components of technostress embodied in higher education institutions are interrelated, which, when appearing in the lives of university lecturers, contributes to the increase in the level of technostress. The research results could be useful for all higher education institutions in terms of what factors they should place great emphasis on to reduce or prevent technostress.

Demographic and lifestyle factors associated with perceived stress in the primary care setting: a MetroNet study

BACKGROUND

Stress and stress-related disorders are common in primary care. The stress-related needs for patients are often unmet partially due to the time and resource constraints inherent to many primary care settings. We examined the relative significance of key demographic and lifestyle factors related to stress among primary care patients. This information is unknown and needed to strategize these increasingly limited resources.

METHODS

We distributed surveys to 100 consecutive adult patients in each of four family medicine centres in metropolitan Detroit between 2006 and 2007. Hierarchical multivariable regression analyses were used to assess the relative significance of the demographic and lifestyle factors related to stress.

RESULTS

Of the 400 distributed surveys, 315 (78.7%) answered a minimum of 70% of the questions and were included in the analysis. The lifestyle factors [exercise, body mass index (BMI), sleep, social support, recovery or self-care skills (such as the ability to rest, relax and recuperate)] explained 39% (P < 0.001) of the variance in stress compared to 10% (P < 0.001) by the demographic factors (age, gender, race, employment, education and marital status). Stress was inversely related to sleep (P < 0.001), recovery (P < 0.001) and social support (P = 0.02) and positively to education (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The modifiable lifestyle factors explained significantly more of perceived stress among primary care patients than the demographic factors. Sleep and recovery had the biggest inverse relationship with stress, which suggests that they should be the primary target for assessment and intervention in patients who report stress or stress-related disorders.

Workplace management of upper limb disorders: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Upper limb pain is common among working-aged adults and a frequent cause of absenteeism.

AIMS

To systematically review the evidence for workplace interventions in four common upper limb disorders.

METHODS

Systematic review of English articles using Medline, Embase, Cinahl, AMED, Physiotherapy Evidence Database PEDro (carpal tunnel syndrome and non-specific arm pain only) and Cochrane Library. Study inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies or systematic reviews employing any workplace intervention for workers with carpal tunnel syndrome, non-specific arm pain, extensor tenosynovitis or lateral epicondylitis. Papers were selected by a single reviewer and appraised by two reviewers independently using methods based on Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) methodology.

RESULTS

1532 abstracts were identified, 28 papers critically appraised and four papers met the minimum quality standard (SIGN grading + or ++) for inclusion. There was limited evidence that computer keyboards with altered force displacement characteristics or altered geometry were effective in reducing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. There was limited, but high quality, evidence that multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for non-specific musculoskeletal arm pain was beneficial for those workers absent from work for at least four weeks. In adults with tenosynovitis there was limited evidence that modified computer keyboards were effective in reducing symptoms. There was a lack of high quality evidence to inform workplace management of lateral epicondylitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is needed focusing on occupational management of upper limb disorders. Where evidence exists, workplace outcomes (e.g. successful return to pre-morbid employment; lost working days) are rarely addressed.

Impact of a web-based stress management and health promotion program on neck-shoulder-back pain in knowledge workers? 12 month prospective controlled follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of a web-based stress management program on neck-shoulder-back pain and perceived pain-relatedness to stress in a prospective and controlled study.

METHODS

Study points were baseline, after 6 months intervention and at 12 months follow-up on 226 news media employees in two study groups and one control group.

RESULTS

Between groups no significant differences were found at any study point. Within groups, the study group with less intensive program improved in pain-relatedness to stress at follow-up. Between baseline and after intervention, the group with more intensive program showed decreased low back pain, and the control group showed less pain-relatedness to stress. Within group differences varied according to pain localization and were inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

Present web-based stress management program did not influence neck-shoulder-back pain or perceived pain-relatedness to stress in stress-intensive occupations.

Stress biomarkers' associations to pain in the neck, shoulder and back in healthy media workers: 12-month prospective follow-up

Physiological and psychological mechanisms have been proposed to link stress and musculoskeletal pain (MSP), and a number of stress biomarkers in patients with chronic pain have shown to be associated with stress-related disorders as well as health and recovery. The aim was to study if similar results might be found in a working population, in stress and computer intensive occupations with mild/moderate pain in neck, shoulder and back. The questions were if there are: (1) associations between self rated neck, shoulder and back pain (VAS) on one hand and stress-related (catabolic), recovery related (anabolic) variables, cardiovascular/lifestyle factors and immune markers on the other hand. (2) associations between long term changes in pain and stress marker values (6 month period). (3) predictive values in stress biomarkers for pain (12 month period) A study group with 121 media workers, 67 males (average 45 years) and 53 females (average 43 years), at three news departments of a media company was recruited. Pain occurrence and pain level in neck, shoulder, upper and low back were self-rated at three times with a 6-month interval towards the last month. Stress biomarker sampling was performed, at the same intervals. An additional similar questionnaire with momentary ratings focusing on "at present" i.e. within the same hour as stress biomarker sampling was performed. There were no changes in medicine intake or computer working hours during the 12 month study period. The total pain level and prevalence of pain decreased between baseline and 12 months follow-up. The rate of participation was 95%. Cross-sectional analyses on differences in stress biomarkers in groups of "no pain" and "pain" showed less beneficial stress biomarker levels (P < 0.05) in the "pain" group after age and gender adjustments in: S-DHEA-S and P-endothelin, S-insulin and P-fibrinogen. Analyses of each gender separately, adjusted for age, revealed in males differences in S-insulin, saliva cortisol 3, and P-endothelin. Furthermore, tendencies were seen in BMI, P-fibrinogen, and S-testosterone. In the female "pain" group a less beneficial P-BNP level was found. Longitudinal analysis of changes in pain levels and stress biomarkers within an interval of 6 months showed beneficial changes in the following stress markers: P-NPY, S-albumin, S-growth hormone and S-HDL when pain decreased, and vice versa when pain increased. Linear regression analyses showed statistically significant predicting values at the initial test instance for pain 12 months later in lower S-DHEA-S and S-albumin and higher B-HbA1c and P-fibrinogen. In stepwise regression and after age and gender adjustments, the associations with S-DHEA-S remained statistically significant. The present study shows that individuals in working life with a high level of regenerative/anabolic activity have less pain than other subjects, and that decreased regenerative/anabolic activity is associated with increasing pain. The levels of NPY, albumin, GH and HDL increased when pain decreased and vice versa. Low DHEA-S predicted pain 12 months later. These findings might contribute to increased knowledge about strategies to prevent further progression of neck/shoulder/back pain in persons who are "not yet in chronic pain".

Health Complaints and Satisfied With the Job? A Cross-Sectional Study on Work Environment, Job Satisfaction, and Subjective Health Complaints

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of subjective health complaints (SHCs) among satisfied and dissatisfied workers. The second aim was to evaluate whether any SHC differences were attributable directly to the work environment or mediated by the individual perception of the environment (satisfactory or not).

METHOD

In a cross-sectional study of 458 employees (56% women) in 5 different organizations, work environment, job satisfaction, and SHC were measured.

RESULTS

Satisfied workers reported an average of five to six subjective health complaints that correspond to the prevalence found in a Norwegian general population. Work environment explained 43% of the variance for job satisfaction and 9% of the variance in SHCs.

CONCLUSION

SHCs are common among satisfied workers. Work environment has only a limited influence on this validated health indicator.