The Mediating Effect of Unhealthy Behaviors and Body Mass Index in the Relation Between High Physical Workload and Self-Rated Poor Health in Male Construction Workers

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the mediating role of unhealthy behaviors and body mass index (BMI) in the relation between high physical workload and selfrated health in male construction workers. Methods: Longitudinal data over 2010 to 2018 were used of 30,224 male construction workers in The Netherlands. Smoking, lack of physical activity, and alcohol consumption were self-reported. BMI was based on measured body weight and height. Multilevel modeling path analyses were used to determine the mediating role of unhealthy behaviors in the relation between physical workload and poor health. Results: A direct effect of high physical workload on poor health adjusted for unhealthy behaviors and BMI was found (odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38 to 1.68). Indirect effects of the unhealthy behaviors and BMI in the relation between high physical workload and poor health were small (OR varying from 0.96 to 1.04). Conclusion: The pathway of high physical workload and poor health through unhealthy behaviors and BMI was not supported.

Do overweight/obesity and low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity moderate the effect of occupational physical activity on self-rated health of construction workers?

“…Our findings that demanding OPA, obesity and low levels of LTVPA were significantly associated with poor self-rated health are in line with previous studies (de Breij et al 2020 ; Proper et al 2020 ; van Oostrom et al 2021 ). Using the same dataset of construction workers, Proper et al also found significant associations for high OPA and unhealthy behaviors with poor self-rated health (Proper et al 2020 ).…”

“…Our findings that demanding OPA, obesity and low levels of LTVPA were significantly associated with poor self-rated health are in line with previous studies (de Breij et al 2020 ; Proper et al 2020 ; van Oostrom et al 2021 ). Using the same dataset of construction workers, Proper et al also found significant associations for high OPA and unhealthy behaviors with poor self-rated health (Proper et al 2020 ). Another recent study, among lower educated workers from various economic sectors, also confirmed that those with obesity or being physically inactive in leisure time were more likely to report poor health (van Oostrom et al 2021 ).…”

“…Several sociodemographic, behavioral and workload factors were included as covariates based on previous associations found in the literature. Age and working hours were taken into account as covariates as was done earlier (Kaikkonen et al 2009 ; Proper et al 2020 ). Because of a lot of missing data and similar (low) educational level of the included construction workers (Proper et al 2020 ), education was not used as covariate.…”

“…Age and working hours were taken into account as covariates as was done earlier (Kaikkonen et al 2009 ; Proper et al 2020 ). Because of a lot of missing data and similar (low) educational level of the included construction workers (Proper et al 2020 ), education was not used as covariate. Based on the job-demand-control-support (Johnson and Hall 1988 ) and the effort-reward model (Siegrist 1996 ), a number of psychosocial workload factors were considered as covariates, namely job control, job demands, social support, rewards, job satisfaction, and work insecurity.…”

Within-individual changes in physical work demands associated with self-reported health and musculoskeletal symptoms: a cohort study among Dutch workers

“…Also, heavy lifting and awkward postures, often apparent in physically demanding jobs, seem to play a major role in the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (da Costa and Vieira 2010 ). Higher physical work demands have also shown to be associated with other health problems including poor self-rated health (Proper et al 2020 ), ischemic heart disease (Holtermann et al 2009 ), atherosclerosis (Krause et al 2007 ) and all-cause mortality in males (Coenen et al 2018 ). Moreover, the negative consequences of high physical work demands resulted in a shortened working life, sickness absence and unemployment (Pedersen et al 2020 ).…”