Marko Vuori1, Ritva Akila, Virpi Kalakoski, Jaana Pentti, Mika Kivimäki, Jussi Vahtera, Mikko Härmä, Sampsa Puttonen. 1. From the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Mr Vuori, Ms Akila, Dr Kalakoski, Ms Pentti, Dr Kivimäki, Dr Vahtera, Dr Härmä, and Dr Puttonen), Helsinki, Finland; University College London (Dr Kivimäki), UK; and University of Turku and Turku University Hospital (Dr Vahtera), Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between work stress and cognitive performance. METHODS: Cognitive performance of a total of 99 women (mean age = 47.3 years) working in hospital wards at either the top or bottom quartiles of job strain was assessed using validated tests that measured learning, short-term memory, and speed of memory retrieval. RESULTS: The high job strain group (n = 43) had lower performance than the low job strain group (n = 56) in learning (P = 0.025), short-term memory (P = 0.027), and speed of memory retrieval (P = 0.003). After controlling for education level, only the difference in speed of memory retrieval remained statistically significant (P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The association found between job strain and speed of memory retrieval might be one important factor explaining the effect of stress on work performance.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between work stress and cognitive performance. METHODS: Cognitive performance of a total of 99 women (mean age = 47.3 years) working in hospital wards at either the top or bottom quartiles of job strain was assessed using validated tests that measured learning, short-term memory, and speed of memory retrieval. RESULTS: The high job strain group (n = 43) had lower performance than the low job strain group (n = 56) in learning (P = 0.025), short-term memory (P = 0.027), and speed of memory retrieval (P = 0.003). After controlling for education level, only the difference in speed of memory retrieval remained statistically significant (P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The association found between job strain and speed of memory retrieval might be one important factor explaining the effect of stress on work performance.