Job strain, occupation, and bladder health among women

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 69 - 80
• Main Authors: Brady, Sonya S., Arguedas, Andrés, Huling, Jared D., Hellemann, Gerhard, Lewis, Cora E., Fok, Cynthia S., Van Den Eeden, Stephen K., Markland, Alayne D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Bladder; bladder health; Cohort Studies; Coronary artery; decision latitude; Female; Humans; job; job demands; job strain; lower urinary tract symptoms; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms - epidemiology; occupation; Occupational stress; Occupations; Urinary Bladder; Urinary tract; Urination; Workplace - psychology; Young Adult; Young adults; decision latitude; occupation; job; job strain; lower urinary tract symptoms; bladder health; job demands
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.25297

Objectives Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common among employed women. An underexplored topic is whether characteristics of women's occupations may influence LUTS. The present study examined whether job strain and its individual components (psychological demands, decision latitude) were associated with greater LUTS and their impact and whether, compared to managerial and professional occupations, occupations characterized by manual labor, sales, service, nursing, and teaching were associated with greater LUTS and their impact. Methods Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults cohort study data were analyzed. Job strain and occupation were assessed in 1987–88 and 1995–96. In 2012–13, LUTS and their impact were assessed. LUTS/impact category (a composite variable ranging from bladder health to mild, moderate, and severe LUTS/impact) was regressed on job strain and occupation in separate analyses, adjusting for age, race, parity, education, and financial hardship (n = 1006). Results Job strain and its individual components were not associated with LUTS/impact. In comparison to managerial and professional occupations, service occupations in 1987–88 and 1995–96 were both associated with greater odds of LUTS/impact in proportional odds logistic regression analyses. Employment as a nurse, health assistant, or health aide in 1995‐96 was associated with greater odds of any LUTS/impact versus bladder health. Support positions in 1987–88 and sales positions in 1995–96 were associated with greater odds of moderate or severe LUTS/impact versus bladder health or mild LUTS/impact. Conclusions Future research should examine characteristics of workplaces that may promote or constrain bladder health (e.g., time and autonomy to void when desired, infrastructure to void).