Work stress, nonwork stress, and health

Abstract

This paper examines the interface between work stress and nonwork stress and how it relates to health. Results indicate that the way people feel at work is largely a function of conditions at work. Similarly, the way people feel outside of work is largely a function of things that occur outside the job. Both work and nonwork stress are independently associated with physical and mental health, although the relationship between nonwork stress and health is slightly stronger. Excessive demands or stresses in one domain can interfere with life in the other. Such conflict operates equally in both directions. When present it can be an added source of stress and adversely affect health. Taken together these findings suggest that the stress people experience at work is not simply a reflection of their "personal problems." This has implications for the design of health promotion and stress prevention programs in the workplace.

Measures of Work-Family Conflict Predict Sickness Absence From Work

“…Stress outside work was measured by a scale based on eight items regarding problems in the private life. 30 The upper quartile of the sample was considered as having high levels of stress outside work. Four questions about the level of social support outside work were asked and summed up.…”

Making the ?new American workplace? safe and healthy: A joint labor-management-researcher approach

“…Research contributions from this PAR study have included: methodological discussions of the scientific foundations and implementation issues of the PAR approach [Israel et al, 1992b; Hugentobler et al, 19921; empirical tests of aspects of the occupational stress theoretical model [Heaney et al, 1993;Klitzman et al, 1990; Baker, 19931; evaluations of specific interventions developed during the As the above example illustrates, participatory action research represents an approach to intervention research with the potential to contribute to theoretical advances in occupational health and safety, and to improved intervention. Other recent examples of PAR studies further illustrate the value of this method [see Whyte, 1990;Elden and Chisholm.…”

La santé mentale des cols blancs et l’environnement psychosocial du travail

“…La tension psychologique au travail associée à une charge familiale élevée peut être cause d'ab-sence du travail. Une étude a montré que les tensions au travail et dans la vie hors travail sont associées de façon indépendante à la santé physique et mentale et peuvent avoir un impact additif sur la santé (Klitzman et al, 1990). Dans notre étude, la tension au travail n'a entraîné l'absence que chez les sujets qui avaient aussi une charge familiale élevée.…”