Work-related stress symptoms of aging employees in municipal occupations

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between stress symptoms and work stressors among aging employees in municipal occupations. The subjects were 1799 men and 2456 women aged 48-62 years and representing 40 different occupations. Stress reactions were identified on the basis of long-term cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and psychological symptoms. Work stressors were described by means of physical and mental work demands. Two factors describing the possibilities for regulating one's own work load were used as indicators for the adjustment of work according to individual capacities. The effect of work stressors on cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological symptoms was studied in separate analyses, controlling for the relevant disease group. Both chronic diseases and work stressors were related to the occurrence of symptoms. However, stress identified on the basis of symptoms was not only a phenomenon determined by health status. Work stressors and possibilities for regulating one's own work load were systematically related to symptom level.