N C G M Donders1, K Roskes, J W J van der Gulden. 1. Department of Social Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre , 117 SG, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen. The Netherlands, n.donders@sg.umcn.nl
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Ageing of the Dutch working force and increasingly more stringent restrictions regarding early retirement and disability benefits are leading to higher numbers of workers with ill health. Until now, only a few studies have explored how employees with ill health perceive their work. This study investigated possible differences in scores on fatigue, emotional exhaustion, perceived health complaints and various work-related characteristics between chronically ill (CIWs) and non-chronically ill workers (NCIWs), as well as differences in associations between work- and health-related characteristics. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all employees of a Dutch university to collect data on perceived work-related and health-related characteristics (response 49.1%). Differences in various scores were analysed using chi (2)-tests and the general linear model. Associations between the work- and the health-related characteristics were determined by multiple linear regression analyses in the CIWs (n = 444) and NCIWs (n = 1,347) separately. Interaction terms were included to detect differences between the two groups. RESULTS: The results indicated that the CIWs had less favourable scores on the three health-related characteristics. Also, the CIWs scored less favourably than the NCIWs on almost all the work-related characteristics. In the two groups, negative work-related aspects, such as higher work pressure, contributed most to explaining the variance in the health-related characteristics. However, in the CIWs, fatigue was not explained by the work-related aspects as much as in the NCIWs. In the CIWs, the association between unpleasant treatment and the health-related characteristics was stronger than in the NCIWs, but there were indications that autonomy, possibilities for learning and social support from superiors also played an important role. CONCLUSIONS: CIWs perceived more fatigue, emotional exhaustion and health complaints than NCIWs. There were different patterns of associations between work- and health-related characteristics in the NCIWs and CIWs. Future studies on associations between work-related characteristics and health should take the presence of chronic disease into account.
OBJECTIVES: Ageing of the Dutch working force and increasingly more stringent restrictions regarding early retirement and disability benefits are leading to higher numbers of workers with ill health. Until now, only a few studies have explored how employees with ill health perceive their work. This study investigated possible differences in scores on fatigue, emotional exhaustion, perceived health complaints and various work-related characteristics between chronically ill (CIWs) and non-chronically ill workers (NCIWs), as well as differences in associations between work- and health-related characteristics. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all employees of a Dutch university to collect data on perceived work-related and health-related characteristics (response 49.1%). Differences in various scores were analysed using chi (2)-tests and the general linear model. Associations between the work- and the health-related characteristics were determined by multiple linear regression analyses in the CIWs (n = 444) and NCIWs (n = 1,347) separately. Interaction terms were included to detect differences between the two groups. RESULTS: The results indicated that the CIWs had less favourable scores on the three health-related characteristics. Also, the CIWs scored less favourably than the NCIWs on almost all the work-related characteristics. In the two groups, negative work-related aspects, such as higher work pressure, contributed most to explaining the variance in the health-related characteristics. However, in the CIWs, fatigue was not explained by the work-related aspects as much as in the NCIWs. In the CIWs, the association between unpleasant treatment and the health-related characteristics was stronger than in the NCIWs, but there were indications that autonomy, possibilities for learning and social support from superiors also played an important role. CONCLUSIONS: CIWs perceived more fatigue, emotional exhaustion and health complaints than NCIWs. There were different patterns of associations between work- and health-related characteristics in the NCIWs and CIWs. Future studies on associations between work-related characteristics and health should take the presence of chronic disease into account.
Authors: I Weijman; W J G Ros; G E H M Rutten; W B Schaufeli; M J Schabracq; J A M Winnubst Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Wendy Koolhaas; Jac J L van der Klink; Johanna P M Vervoort; Michiel R de Boer; Sandra Brouwer; Johan W Groothoff Journal: J Occup Rehabil Date: 2013-06
Authors: Nina Fischer; Christiane Degen; Jian Li; Adrian Loerbroks; Andreas Müller; Peter Angerer Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2015-11-05 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Wei-Quan Lin; Meng-Juan Jing; Jie Tang; Jia-Ji Wang; Hui-Shan Zhang; Le-Xin Yuan; Pei-Xi Wang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-09-02 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Liliana S Araújo; David Wasley; Rosie Perkins; Louise Atkins; Emma Redding; Jane Ginsborg; Aaron Williamon Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2017-10-10
Authors: Henk-Jan Boersema; Bert Cornelius; Wout E L de Boer; Jac J L van der Klink; Sandra Brouwer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-09-17 Impact factor: 3.240