Occupational strain and the incidence of coronary heart disease

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Sociomedical Sciences

Background:

• The job strain model posits that high psychological demands and low job control increase coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.
• Previous research suggests a correlation between occupational strain and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
• This study investigates the job strain hypothesis within a specific ethnic cohort in Hawaii.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that men in high occupational strain jobs have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
• To examine the association between job strain components (psychological demands, job control) and CHD incidence.
• To explore the influence of acculturation on the relationship between job strain and CHD.

Main Methods:

• An 18-year prospective follow-up study (1965-1983) of 8,006 men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii.
• Assessment of coronary heart disease incidence and occupational strain using validated measures.
• Multivariate and stratified analyses, including by level of acculturation.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between high occupational strain (individual components or interaction) and coronary heart disease incidence.
• Trends of association were observed to be inverse to the job strain model's prediction, reaching borderline significance.
• Stratified analyses revealed inverse associations for more Westernized men and no association for more traditional men; no links to major CHD risk factors were found.

Conclusions:

• The study did not support the job strain hypothesis regarding coronary heart disease risk in this cohort.
• Methodological differences, including occupation measurement and strain assessment, may explain discrepancies with prior research.
• Cultural factors or unique perceptions of occupational strain in this Japanese-American cohort might influence the observed outcomes.