Stress at Work: An Evaluation of Occupational Stressors as Reported by a Multicultural New Zealand Workforce

Occupational stress is a cause of considerable morbidity, but research on work stressors has comparatively neglected the moderating effects of gender, age, ethnicity, and occupation. A workforce of 5,467 European, Maori, Pacific Islander, and Asian employees, 40 years old or older, working for 41 companies, completed a questionnaire giving details of total stressors and subcategories of stressors. Relative risks were estimated using numbers above and below median scores. There were significant associations between increased stressors and the following [with category showing highest relative risk, and corresponding relative risk (95% confidence interval)]: male gender [job scope, 1.50(1.37,1.63)]; young age [rapport with management, 1.34(11.23,1.46)]; administrative goup [job pressure, 1.85(1.69,2.03)]; and a negative association with Pacific Islander ethnicity [rapport with management, 0.59(0.52,0.66)]. These findings indicate areas in a workforce to which stress-reduction interventions can be directed.