Work stress and health risk behavior
Johannes Siegrist1, Andreas Rödel
1Department of Medical Sociology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, PO Box 10 10 07, D-40001 Düsseldorf, Germany. siegrist@uni-duesseldorf.de
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|December 19, 2006
Summary
Workplace stress shows a modest link to health risk behaviors like smoking and heavy drinking. The strongest associations were found with heavy alcohol use in men and overweight individuals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Behavioral science
- Public health
Background:
- Psychosocial stress at work is a significant factor influencing employee well-being.
- Health risk behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and overweight, are prevalent in Western lifestyles.
- Understanding the interplay between work stress and these behaviors is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize existing research on the association between psychosocial stress at work and health risk behaviors.
- To examine the relationship between work stress and specific behaviors: cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and overweight.
- To identify the strength and consistency of these associations based on published studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of major studies published between 1989 and 2006.
- Analysis of 46 studies examining psychosocial stress and health risk behaviors.
- Utilized established models for measuring work stress, such as the demand-control and effort-reward imbalance models.
Main Results:
- The review found only modest support for a consistent association between work stress and health risk behaviors overall.
- Stronger relationships were observed between work stress and heavy alcohol consumption among men.
- Overweight and the co-occurrence of multiple health risks showed notable associations with work stress.
Conclusions:
- While the link between work stress and health risk behaviors is not consistently strong, certain associations warrant attention.
- Heavy alcohol consumption in men and overweight are more consistently related to workplace stress.
- Worksite health promotion programs should aim to reduce stressful experiences to mitigate associated health risks.
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