Evidence from cohort studies

Abstract

Abstract This chapter aims at informing readers on essentials of the current state of the art in research on psychosocial work environments and their effects on health. By and large, evidence is based on prospective observational cohort studies. In this account, no attempt is made to provide a systematic review or meta-review of a field of research characterized by dynamic growth. Rather, the content focuses on the main theoretical models, with the intention to offer explanations based on robust data. Four major chronic disorders are selected as health outcomes (cardiovascular diseases, depression, metabolic disorders, musculoskeletal disorders), and we illustrate some promising expansions of knowledge of other, less frequently studied disorders (addictive disorders, sleep disturbances, reduced cognitive functioning (including dementia), and infectious diseases, in particular COVID-19). Taken together, despite some obvious heterogeneity of findings, a solid basis of new knowledge results from this review. Two additional aspects are included. Firstly, the social distribution of psychosocial work environments across employed populations is illustrated, using data from a European-wide survey. Finally, a core research question is addressed: the contribution of adverse working conditions towards explaining health inequalities, referring to the notions of mediation and moderation analysis.