Authors
Abstract
Background: One of the practical models for the assessment of stressful working conditions due
to job strain is job demand and control model, which explains how physical and psychological
adverse consequences, including cardiovascular risk factors can be established due to high
work demands (the amount of workload, in addition to time limitations to complete that work)
and low control of the worker on his/her work (lack of decision making) in the workplace. The
aim of this study was to investigate how certain cardiovascular risk factors (including body mass
index [BMI], heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking) and the job demand and
job control are related to each other. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study
was conducted on 500 workers of the petrochemical industry in south of Iran, 2009. The study
population was selected using simple random statistical method. They completed job demand
and control questionnaire. The cardiovascular risk factors data was extracted from the workers
hygiene profiles. Chi‑square (2
) test and hypothesis test () were used to assess the possible
relationship between different quantified variables, individual demographic and cardiovascular
risk factors. Results: The results of this study revealed that a significant relationship can be
found between job demand control model and cardiovascular risk factors. Chi‑square test
result for the heart rate showed the highest (2 = 145.078) relationship, the corresponding
results for smoking and BMI were 2 = 85.652 and 2 = 30.941, respectively. Subsequently,
hypothesis testing results for cholesterol and hypertension was 0.469 and 0.684, respectively.
Discussion: Job strain is likely to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular risk
factors among male staff in a petrochemical company in Iran. The parameters illustrated in
the Job demands and control model can act as acceptable predictors for the probability of
job stress occurrence followed by showing a high trend of CVD risk factors.
Keywords
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