Risk factors for mental workload: influence of the working environment, cardiovascular health and lifestyle. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesMental workload is a condition which can negatively influence the overall health of workers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for the onset of mental workload, including working conditions, cardiovascular comorbidities and lifestyle habits, in a working population.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study including 408 workers from a risk prevention service of small/medium companies in Murcia (Spain). Workers from the secondary and tertiary sectors or primary/secondary sectors with administrative management tasks who underwent a routine medical examination between 1 January 2017 and 31 April 2017 were included. Workers from the primary sector and construction were excluded to avoid a sex and age bias.ResultsFrom 408 workers, 206 (50.5%) were females; with mean age 36.8±10.4 years. 164 (40.2%) workers had a moderate to significant risk of mental workload. Based on multivariate logistic regression analyses, independent predictors of mental workload were age ≥30 years (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.80; p=0.012), working in tertiary (OR 7.89, 95% CI 3.59 to 17.31; p<0.001) or administrative sectors (OR 87.57, 95% CI 35.22 to 217.79; p<0.001) and alcohol consumption (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.73; p=0.014). Smoking habit (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.85; p=0.012) was found as a protective variable so non-smoking was considered as a risk factor.ConclusionIn the present study from a risk prevention service including workers of small/medium companies from the secondary and tertiary sectors and workers with administrative tasks, the labour sector, age, alcohol consumption and smoking habits, are independently associated with a higher risk of developing moderate to significant mental workload.

Relationship Between Age, Gender, Job Placement, and Social Relationships with the Mental Workload of Managers

“…The study by Kazemi et al (2017) showed that, by studying the relationship between mental workload and cognitive failure through the chosen factors using NASA-TLX and the CFQ questionnaire for the data collection method and various statistical methods, the age demographic had a significant effect on mental workload. Another study by López-López et al (2018) analyzed mental workload in multiple sectors in Spain through a cross-sectional study. The results showed that age was independently associated with a higher risk of developing a moderate to significant mental workload.…”

“…Supported by the previous research, internal factors make a significant contribution to mental workload. For instance, López-López et al (2018) stated that age has a moderate to significant affect on worker workload. Another study conducted by Şeker (2014) showed that many demographic factors such as age, marital status, education level, and gender have a significant effect on worker workload.…”

Reliability and Validity of a Stress Scale in Public Employees from Murcia (Spain)

“…Thus, work-related stress is of increasing interest in our daily lives, given its potential consequences on both employee health and business results (employment leave, absenteeism and poor performance) [3]. Labour has evolved from being mainly a physical activity to having an increasing mental load on the individual [4] and thus, it produces physiological, physical and psychological effects in the short and long-terms, such as negative mood and anxiety [5,6]. Factors such as responsibility, information processing, job-related uncertainty and role ambiguity [7], as well as technostress [8], have contributed to the emergence of new risks to workers' mental health.…”