The relationship between different aspects of occupational stress and general health

Abstract

Introduction. Stress is one of the most common problems at work environments, which may have a negative effect on physical and mental health. Besides, general health problems are the most commonly discussed matter relating to occupational health, causing a reduction in the individual performance quality and work absence. Aims and objectives. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between the different indicators of occupational stress and general health. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among the office workers in Tehran in 2017. HSE’ occupational stress questionnaire was used to develop the different aspects of occupational stress. General health status was determined by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The relationship between different levels of occupational stress and general health was examined by statistical methods. Results. The study was conducted among a total of 393 participant. The mean scores of occupational stress and general health were 3.23 ± 0.44 and 3.26 ± 2.92, respectively. A significant statistical relationship was observed between general health and the different indicators of occupational stress including role (OR = 10.95, P value <0.001), relationships (OR = 2.73, P value <0.001), manager support (OR = 2.43, P value <0.001), demand (OR = 1.98, P value = 0.001) and organizational changes (OR = 3.03, P value <0.001), suggesting that as the level of occupational stress increased, the level of general health declined Conclusion. Attention to the different indicators of occupational stress and to the efficient ways to avoid and manage it can play an important role in improving the general health status of office workers.