M Rigó1, N Dragano2, M Wahrendorf2, J Siegrist3, T Lunau2. 1. Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. Mariann.Rigo@hhu.de. 2. Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. 3. Senior Professorship on Work Stress Research, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The rapid transformation of labor markets has been accompanied by the belief of rising stress at work. However, empirical evidence on such trends based on reliable survey data is scarce. This study analyzes long-term trends in well-established measures of work stressors across Europe, as well as potential occupational differences. METHODS: We use repeated cross-sectional data of 15 European countries from waves 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 of the European Working Conditions Surveys. We apply three-way multilevel regressions (with employees nested in country-years, which are in turn nested in countries) to analyze trends in work stressors measured according to the demand-control and effort-reward imbalance models. Trends by occupational groups are also assessed. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that work stress generally increased from 1995 to 2015, and that the increase was mostly driven by psychological demands. People working in lower-skilled occupations had generally higher levels of job strain and effort-reward imbalance, as well as they tend to have a steeper increase in job strain than people working in higher-skilled occupations. Most of the change occurred from 1995 to 2005. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that work stress has been on rise since 1995, specifically for people working in disadvantageous occupations. This directs the attention to the vulnerable position of the least skilled and also to the use of preventive measures to counteract some of the disadvantages experienced by this occupational group.
OBJECTIVE: The rapid transformation of labor markets has been accompanied by the belief of rising stress at work. However, empirical evidence on such trends based on reliable survey data is scarce. This study analyzes long-term trends in well-established measures of work stressors across Europe, as well as potential occupational differences. METHODS: We use repeated cross-sectional data of 15 European countries from waves 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 of the European Working Conditions Surveys. We apply three-way multilevel regressions (with employees nested in country-years, which are in turn nested in countries) to analyze trends in work stressors measured according to the demand-control and effort-reward imbalance models. Trends by occupational groups are also assessed. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that work stress generally increased from 1995 to 2015, and that the increase was mostly driven by psychological demands. People working in lower-skilled occupations had generally higher levels of job strain and effort-reward imbalance, as well as they tend to have a steeper increase in job strain than people working in higher-skilled occupations. Most of the change occurred from 1995 to 2005. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that work stress has been on rise since 1995, specifically for people working in disadvantageous occupations. This directs the attention to the vulnerable position of the least skilled and also to the use of preventive measures to counteract some of the disadvantages experienced by this occupational group.
Authors: Elisa Menardo; Donatella Di Marco; Sara Ramos; Margherita Brondino; Alicia Arenas; Patricia Costa; Carlos Vaz de Carvalho; Margherita Pasini Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-13 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Patricia Concheiro-Moscoso; Betania Groba; Francisco José Martínez-Martínez; María Del Carmen Miranda-Duro; Laura Nieto-Riveiro; Thais Pousada; Cristina Queirós; Javier Pereira Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Clara Llorens-Serrano; Sergio Salas-Nicás; Albert Navarro-Giné; Salvador Moncada Lluís Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2022-08-08 Impact factor: 3.079