Psychosocial Factors At Work, Smoking, Sedentary Behavior, and Body Mass Index:

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined whether psychosocial factors at work were associated with smoking, sedentary behavior, and body mass index. The study population was composed of 3531 men and 3464 women employed as white collar workers in 21 organizations. Data were collected at worksites. Psychological demands and decision latitude at work were measured with the Karasek 18-item questionnaire. Smoking, sedentary behavior, and mean body mass index were compared by quartiles of decision latitude and psychological demands and by job strain categories. Prevalence of smoking, mean number of cigarettes smoked per day, prevalence of sedentary behavior, and mean body mass index were not consistently associated with decision latitude, psychological demands, or high job strain. However, prevalence of smoking was elevated in women belonging to the highest quartile of psychological demands (odds ratio [OR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 1.6) and in the active job strain groups in both men (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1) and women (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.0). Prevalence of sedentary behavior was elevated in men in the lowest quartile of decision latitude (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.7), in the passive group (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.5), and in the high strain group (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.6). In women, this prevalence was elevated in the third quartile of psychological demand (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.6). These results provide only partial support for an association between some psychosocial factors at work and the prevalence of smoking and sedentary behavior.

Interactive Effects of Job Stress and Body Mass Index on Over‐eating

“…This might explain, in part, the mechanism underpinning the interactive effects proposed by Kivimäki et al (J Occup Health 2010; 52: 66-73) Key words: Body mass index, Hyperphagia, Obesity, Psychological stress When stressed, some people lose and other people gain weight 1) . Although some studies have found associations between stressful work environments and increased body mass index (BMI) [2][3][4][5][6][7] , others have reported no associations between these variables [8][9][10][11][12][13] . Moreover, a highly stressful work environment was associated with low BMIs in several samples 14,15) .…”

Can working conditions explain differences in eating patterns during working hours?

“…(14) Can you influence the order in which you do you tasks? (15) Can you influence your workload? and (16) Can you influence the length of your work day?…”

Work stress, weight gain and weight loss: evidence for bidirectional effects of job strain on body mass index in the Whitehall II study

“…5 While some studies have found an association between high strain, 6,7 high demands, 6,8,9 low control, 3,10 and increased BMI, other studies have reported no associations between these psychosocial characteristics of the work environment and BMI, [11][12][13][14] and, in some samples, high strain or low control were associated with lower BMI. 15,16 Associations of job strain and its components with BMI have been found to vary by sex, but not in a consistent manner 17 and stress has also been proposed to be linked with BMI beyond the work context.…”