Psychosocial Health of Disease-Free Breast Cancer Survivors Compared with Matched Non-cancer Controls / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the psychosocial health of disease-free breast cancer survivors who receive health examinations compared to matched non-cancer controls in a community setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used baseline data from the Health Examinee cohort, which is composed of subjects participating in health. The disease-free breast cancer survivors were defined as those who were ≥ 2 years from initial diagnosis of breast cancer who had completed treatment. Females without a history of cancer were randomly selected at 1:4 ratio by 5-year age groups, education, and household income as a comparison group. We analyzed results from the Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form (PWI-SF) as a psychosocial health measurement. RESULTS: A total of 347 survivors of breast cancer and 1,388 matched controls were included. Total scores on the PWI-SF were lower in breast cancer survivors than matched non-cancer controls (p=0.006), suggesting a lower level of psychosocial stress in breast cancer survivors. In comparison to the control group, prevalence of drinking, smoking and obesity were lower, while exercising for ≥ 150 min/wk was higher in breast cancer survivors (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that breast cancer survivors have better health behaviors than their noncancer controls. After adjusting for other sociodemographic variables, breast cancer survivors were 36% less likely to be included in the stress group (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.42 to 0.98). CONCLUSION: The disease-free breast cancer survivors resuming daily life demonstrated better psychosocial health status compared to matched non-cancer controls.

Difference of Physical Symptoms, PWI and JCQ according to Sasang Constitutions for Industrial Workers

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze industrial workers' stresses from physical symptoms, PWI, JCQ and tasks in classification of Sasang constitutions. METHOD: Data were collected from industrial workers in J Province from May 2003 to June 2003. Questionnaires were distributed and collected on the day of their physical examination. Collected data were analysed through chi2-test. RESULT: Health-related characteristics showed that most of smokers and drinkers were Taeumins and this result was statistically significant. Physical symptoms related to constitutions indicated that GI and neurologic symptoms are significantly more frequent in Soeumin. The percentage of subjects with moderate risk was high in order of Soyangin, Taeumin and Soeumin while the percentage of subjects with high risk was high in order of Soeumin, Taeumin and Soyangin. CONCLUSION: Through this study, Lee Jae Ma's theory was be confirmed compatible with disease characteristics. However, research with more various subjects and variables needs to be made.

The Relationship between psychosocial stress and Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Assembly Line Workers in the Automobile industry / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between stress Factors and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of assembly line workers in the automobile industry. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two Factories of automobile manufacturing companies where inappropriate posture and repetitive motions were required. The total number of subjects was 636, and consisted entirely of men. The Age, length of work duration, marital status, education level, smoking status, drinking status, sleeping time and stress scores were investigated according to subgroups of general characteristics. We divided the subjects into a Reference group and a Stress risk group to compare the frequency of the variables between them. The stress scores of the Positive symptom group were compared with the Symptom free group by the t-test. To measure the stress level, the PWI(Psychosocial Well being Index) which consists of 4 Factors, totaling 45 items, was used. A standardized self-reported questionnaire was used to assess the symptoms in workers. The criteria for positive symptoms were based on Operational Definition of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the NIOSH. RESULTS: 1) The subgroups of Age, Work duration, Marital status, Education level, Smoking status, Drinking status and Sleeping time revealed no differences in frequencies in musculoskeletal symptoms. 2) Higher PWI(p<0.05), Factor 3(p<0.05) and Factor 4(p<0.01) scores were observed in younger workers compared with older workers. 3) The workers who had work durations between 11-15 years showed higher PWI(p<0.01), Factor 2(p<0.01), Factor 3(p<0.01), and Factor 4(p<0.01), compared with other work duration subgroups. 4) Singles had higher Factor 4 scores(p<0.01). 5) The sleeping time of less than 6 hours a day expressed a higher PWI(p<0.01), Factor 2(p<0.05), and Factor 3(p<0.01), Factor 4(p<0.05). 6) There was no difference in the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms between the Reference group and Stress risk group. 7) The subjects who had Positive musculoskeletal symptoms showed a significant difference in Factor 2 scores compared with the Symptom free groups. 8) According to a univariate logistic regression analysis, Factor 2(OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04, p-value: 0.0291) expressed significant but mild effects on the musculoskeletal symptoms and a multivariate logistic regression showed a statistically significant effect on musculoskeletal symptoms(OR:1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07, p-value: 0.0170). CONCLUSION: Psychosocial stress scores were not higher in symptomatic subjects compared with those who had no symptoms. Sleeping longer showed a protective effect on symptoms but this was not statistically significant. There was no relationship between the stress scores and musculoskeletal symptoms in social performance and self-confidence, general well-being and vitality. Factor 2(Depression) was statistically significant though its effect was mild. Limited to this study, We could find partial relationship between psychosocial stress(Depression) and musculoskeletal symptoms. So it could therefore be suspected that ergonomic or other unknown factors may be more significant causes of musculoskeletal symptoms but we did not investigate these.

Stress Relating Factors of Working Women in a Bank / 대한산업의학회지

We surveyed 343 female bank clerks to find out associations between stress and a variety of factors including general, menstruation and reproductive characteristics of the participants. Unmarried women composed the majority of younger, lower income and lower education groups than married did. They also showed higher. though not significantly higher, scores for psychosocial well being index(PWJ) and the first three items of the stress survey. And married women scored slightly higher only in the fourth item of the stress survey. Among the subgroups of married and unmarried women, many factors contributed to a higher stress score in two or more items of the stress survey; in unmarried women, lower education level, little physical exercise, and large family inhabitants, in contrast married women, higher monthly income and greater working hours were related to higher stress scores. According to the menstruation factors, subgroups with dysmenorrhea or irregular cycle and scanty bleedig volume in unmarried women and subgroups with dysmenorrhea in married women showed higher stress scores in PWI. In married women, the proportion of those who have been pregnant was 77.2% and the proportion of those who have experienced spontaneous abortion was 24.1%. Those who have ever experienced two or more spontaneous abortion showed higher, though not statistically significantly higher. scores for PWI. In conclusion, dysmenorrhea was associated with high stress score in two groups. And the other factors related to higher score of PWJ were different between unmarred and married women, which should be considered in a management plan for mental health promotion.

The relationship between Stress and life Styles in Business

BACKGROUND: Stress is found to have influence on physical and mental disorders, and also to daily life styles related to physical health and mental stress. There are many studies that concern the stress and coping response and the relation ships physical, mental disorders and stress. But relationship between stress and life styles have seldom been investigated. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between stress and life styles. METHODS: From June 2, 1997 to June 30, 1997, we selected 463 businessmen we who had undergone regular health screening SUN hospital as subjects of the investigation in the survey on life styles included diet habit, salt ingestion, meat ingestion, alcohol drinking, smoking habit, physical exercise, sleep disturbance, and stress perception was measured by Psychosocial Well-being Index(PWI). RESULTS: 'There was significant difference in diet habit according to ages, marital status education level, monthly income(P<0.01), and job tenure(P<0.01), salt ingestion according to monthly income and body mass index(P<0.05), alcohol drinking according to religion or none, smoking according to age, marital status, monthly income, body mass index(P<0.05), and religion(P<0.01), exercise according to age, education level(P<0.01), monthly income(P<0.01), job department, and job tenure(P<0.05), and sleep disturbance according to age, education level, body mass index(P<0.05), and monthly income(P<0.01). There was no difference in the average scores of PWI according to general characteristics. The average scores of PWI concerning about life styles showed significant difference in diet habit, arcohol drinking, smoking habit, exercise, and sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: The correlation of health habit and motility rate has already proved. This investigation has showed that there is a correlation between life styles and stress. So, we concluded that it is the best way to keep the good health habit by stress control for health promotion and disease prevention.

Relationship between Life Style, the Level of Stress and Irritable Bowel Syndrome on 1498 Male White Collars / 예방의학회지

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is one of the common health problem that has been considered as stress-induced. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between life style and the level of stress and IBS by structured questionnaire which included questions on life style, the self-esteemed gastrointestinal symptoms, and Psychosocial Well-being Index(PWI). Subjects were 1,498 male white collars who get the regular health check and participated in survey at Inje University Health Promotion Center from January to December, 1996. The overall prevalence of IBS was 37.5%(561 cases), and the level of stress by PWI score was higher in IBS group(41.8+/-14.2) than symptom-free group(34.6+/-12.6). As the result of comparison between the two groups, heavier smoking (adjusted OR=2.48, 95% CI 1.81-3.41), longer daily working time (adjusted OR=5.19, 95% CI 3.59-7.56), stimulatory food materials-mainly hot or salty (adjusted OR=1.87, 95% CI 1.44-2.45), higher body mass index (adjusted OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.27-2.57), and higher level of stress (adjusted OR=2.81, 95% CI 1.80-4.43) were estimated as risk factors of IBS. On the contrary, 6-8 hours sleeping per day (adjusted OR=0.38 95% CI 0.21-0.70), 3-4 times exercise per week (adjusted OR=0.57 95% CI 0.39-0.83), and tenure more than 20 years (adjusted OR=0.25 95% CI 0.16-0.35) were considered as protective factors to IBS. In summary, the assessment of the stress level might be placed in the first priority to control IBS, at least by some degree, which suggested that IBS could be controlled by avoiding such risk factors and by encouraging such protective factors.

The Assessment of Stress between White and Blue Collar Workers by using Psychosocial Well-being Index / 예방의학회지

This study was conducted to evaluate the degree of stress state and the risk factors related to in 967 white collar workers and 275 blue collar workers buy using Psycosocial Well-being Index. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In the white collar workers and blue collar workers, young age, low education and low income groups had high scores of stress, while in white collar workers, female had high scores of stress but in blue collar workers male had high scores of stress. 2. According to psychosocial well-being index, mild stress state were 73.9% and 53.1%, high risk stress state were 8.9% and 44.4%, and healthy state were 17.2 and 2.6% in white collar and blue collar workers respectively. 3. The total stress score was highly associated with the factors of depression, social performance and self-confidence, general well-being and vitality, and sleeping disturbance and anxiety in order. 4. In reliability test of stress factors, Cronbach's coefficients of depression, social performance and self-confidence, general well-being and vitality, and sleeping disturbance and anxiety were 0.89, 0.81, 0.79, and 0.74 respectively. In conclusion, it suggested that age, sex, marital status, income, education, sleeping time, smoking and exercise habit were associated with stress score, all of above factors should considered to occupational health.