Work-related Stress Symptoms of Aging Employees in Municipal Occupations

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 87 - 93
• Main Authors: Eskelinen, Leena, Toikkanen, Jouni, Tuomi, Kaija, Mauno, Irja, Nygård, Clas-Håkan, Klockars, Matti, Ilmarinen, Juhani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Helsinki Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health 01.01.1991; National Institute of Occupational Health (Sweden); Institute of Occupational Health (Finland); National Institute of Occupational Health (Denmark); National Institute of Occupational Health (Norway); Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
• Subjects: Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Chronic diseases; Digestive system diseases; Ergonomics. Workplace layout; Ergonomics. Workplace layout. Occupational psychology; Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - etiology; Mental illness; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases - diagnosis; Musculoskeletal Diseases - etiology; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational medicine; Physical Exertion; Psychological stress; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Respiration Disorders - diagnosis; Respiration Disorders - etiology; Respiratory diseases; Risk Factors; Stress, Physiological - complications; Stress, Psychological - complications; Symptoms; Work Capacity Evaluation; Workload; Europe; Finland; municipal workers; aging; work stressors; chronic diseases; stress symptoms; Human; Occupational environment; Work load; Employee; Town; Age 40-49; Working condition; Mental load; Age 50-59; Occupational medicine; Stress
• ISSN: 0355-3140; 1795-990X

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between stress symptoms and work Stressors among aging employees in municipal occupations. The subjects were 1799 men and 2456 women aged 48— 62 years and representing 40 different occupations. Stress reactions were identified on the basis of long-term cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and psychological symptoms. Work Stressors were described by means of physical and mental work demands. Two factors describing the possibilities for regulating one's own work load were used as indicators for the adjustment of work according to individual capacities. The effect of work Stressors on cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological symptoms was studied in separate analyses, controlling for the relevant disease group. Both chronic diseases and work Stressors were related to the occurrence of symptoms. However, stress identified on the basis of symptoms was not only a phenomenon determined by health status. Work Stressors and possibilities for regulating one's own work load were systematically related to symptom level.