[Assessment of occupational stress among shopping centre employees]

Occupational stress literature emphasizes the importance of assessment and management of work related stress. The recognition of the harmful physical and psychological effects of occupational stress on both individuals and organizations is widely studied in Europe. In Italy such legislation was introduced by Legislative Decree 81/2008. Objective of the present study was to evaluate the occupational stress level of a shopping centre employees. A sample of 50 workers, 54% male (n = 27) and 46% female (n = 23) underwent to the Occupational Stress Index (OSI) questionnaire, used to examine occupational stress level of employees through the evaluation of work organization, individual characteristics, coping strategies, and psychosomatic effects of the stress. The results of OS were compared to the stress levels of a reference population. Results of data analysis provided evidence that the work organization of the examined shopping centre was good and there was no correlation between work characteristics, personality patterns, coping strategies and the psychosomatic effects of the stress. In addition a negative relationship between job satisfaction and length of service was found. Improvements in working conditions as well as early diagnosis are essential for preventing further increases in these disorders among workers. The next step would be multidisciplinary intervention studies aimed at the work environment, with the goal of identifying scientifically-based strategies that are most effective in preventing occupational stress.