Assessment of Occupational Stress among High School Teachers of Ahmedabad City, India

Background: Apart from teaching, school teachers are involved in much of the school related work which may eventually affect their psychological wellbeing. It is important to know the psychological impacts of such work related stress among school teachers. Objectives: To find out the prevalence of variables of the occupation stress among high school teachers using scale; To find out association between the selected personal variables with different component of occupational stress as defined in The School Teachers Job Stressor Scale-STJSS; Methods: STJSS was used as a tool for data collection. The sample size was calculated and the data were analyses for components of occupational stress by selecting 36 school teachers from each zone. Statistical analysis was done using proportions, Kurtosis-Skewness and Chi-square test. Results: Among a total of 218 school teachers, Male teachers had significantly higher proportions of anxiety (72.72%) and depression (76.66%) than female counterparts. On the other hand, female teachers (38.88%) were more likely to feel “additional work-load” than the males (21.09%). Depression was more common in overweight (18.51%) and obese (23.07%) participants. Conclusion: Demographic variables like age and gender had significant associations with occupational stressors among the school teachers. The need of psychological improvements among school teachers should be the area of focus including school health.

Comparative analysis of the depressive state, stressor, and stress-relieving factors of novice first year residents and established residents in Japan / 医学教育

Aim: We sought to compare the depression state of first-year residents, who were new to the system of clinical resident training, with those who had become completely familiar with the system.Method: A questionnaire-based survey on stress reaction was distributed to 250 resident training hospitals in Japan. The survey was taken by 1,753 first year residents who started postgraduate clinical training in 2011. The survey was given to the students once before the training and-again months after the training had started. The results were compared with those from a similar survey in 2004.Result: 3 months after the training had started, 30.5% of residents suffered from a depressive state. At that time, the prevalence of residents with newly developed symptoms of depression, who had no depressive state before the training, significantly decreased compared to those in 2004 (19.6 vs. 25.2%, p<0.001). The decrease of depressive state in 2011 may be due to the decrease of working hours, the improvement of stressor and stress-relieving factors.Discussion: Many residents still experienced a stress reaction. Further improvement of the training environment should be considered.

Relationship of job stressors,the coping styles and social supports among medical workers in primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou City / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of job stressors,the coping styles and social supports among medical workers in primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou City. METHODS: A total of 211 medical workers from 168 primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou City were selected as study subjects by random sampling method. The relationship of job stressors,the coping styles and social supports were investigated by the Scale for Occupational Stressors in Clinical Medical Workers,the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Social Support Questionnaire. RESULTS: The total scale score of job stressors was( 90. 5 ± 16. 7),medium level and above of stress scale( total score≥95. 0) accounted for 41. 2%( 87 /211). The median scores of positive coping dimension score and negative coping dimension score were 2. 0 and 1. 0,the total score of social support was( 41. 2 ± 9. 8). The medium level and above of social support scale( total score ≥32. 0)accounted for 86. 3%( 182 /211). The multiple stepwise regression analysis results showed that the clinicians and the parttime school doctors had higher job stress than those medical workers who were not majored in clinic and full-time school doctors( P < 0. 05). The medical workers with higher monthly income and higher score of social support showed higher job stress( P < 0. 05). The medical workers with higher social support had lower job stress( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: High job stress was found in the medical workers in primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou City. Positive coping styles and social supports has important role in relieving job stress of school medical workers.

Survey and analysis on job stress, coping style and general self-efficacy of emergency nurses / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To understand the job stressors, coping style and general self-efficacy of emergency nurses and relationship of them. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 83 emergency nurses were conducted through the Chinese Nurses′ Job Stress Sources Scale, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, General Self-efficacy Scale. Results Job stress among nurses in emergency department was caused by heavy workloads and time distribution (2.88±0.82), issue of patient care (2.78±0.59). The score of emergency nurses′coping propensity was 3.77, indicating more use of positive coping. Negative coping scored higher than the norm (26.99±4.76 vs.21.25±7.41), the difference was significant (t=10.290, P<0.01). The average score of general self-efficacy was 2.40 ± 0.48, lower than the norm (2.86±0.52), the difference was significant (t=-8.07, P<0.01). Active coping style scores were negatively correlated with job stress (r =-0.294, P < 0.05), negative coping style scores were positively correlated with job stress (r =0.239, P<0.05). General self-efficacy and positive coping scores were positively correlated (r=0.270, P<0.05). Conclusions The job stress among emergency nurses was at high level, self-efficacy was not high, but they still have a positive behavior patterns. Nurse managers should take advantage of the positive psychological characteristics of nurses and give reasonable support and guidance, in order to enhance the confidence of nurses and promote self-efficacy, optimize coping, improve the physical and mental health in emergency nurses.

Study on the relationship among job stress, job burnout and organizational commitment in ICU nurses / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the current working status and explore the relationship among job stress, job burnout and organizational commitment in ICU nurses. Methods By using cluster random sampling method, 233 nurses from 5 general hospitals were selected to accept investigation by Commitment Questionnaire and Nurses' general situation questionnaire. Results The job stress and job burnout were both significant negatively correlated with organizational commitment (r=-0.33, P<0.01;r=-0.22, P < 0.01).The management issues and interpersonal relationships and decreased personal accomplishment both had significant impact on affective commitment and continuance commitment of ICU nurses (r=0.539, P < 0.01; r=0.387, P < 0.01). The management issues and interpersonal relationships, professional and career issues and emotional exhaustion had significant predictive power on normative commitment(r=0.458,P < 0.01). Conclusion It generally was in a higher level of job stress in ICU nurses, which indicates that hospital mangers should try to eliminate the causes ,assist them to reduce job stress and relieve the job burnout.

Relationship among job stressors, sleep quality and psychological health of nurses / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship among job stressors,sleep quality and psychological health of nurses.Methods 708 female nurses in a 3-A-grade general hospitals of Guangxi were chosen and asked to fill out the Nurse Job Stressors Questionnaire-Revised (NJSQ-R),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90).Results ① The total mean score of NJSQ-R (1.50± 0.62) and the five job stressors,including the job environment and characters (1.60±0.65),personal relation ship(1.21±0.73),the attitude of patient and their relatives(1.63±0.74),professional skill(1.38±0.71) and social status and career development(1.97±0.72) were positively related with the total mean score of SCL-90 (1.64±0.69) (r=0.32-0.50,P＜0.01)and the total score of PSQI(8.11±3.52) (r=0.28-0.35,P＜0.01).There was a positive relationship between SCL-90 and PSQI(r=0.46,P＜0.01)).② SCL-90(β=0.387,P＜ 0.01)and the job stressor of the social status and career development(β=0.120,P＜0.05)were directly sig nificantly associated with PSQI.The job stressor of job environment and characters(β=0.235,P＜0.01) and professional skill(β=0.117,P＜0.05)were indirectly associated with PSQI mediated by SCL-90.③ PSQI was directly significantly associated with SCL-90(β=0.344,＜0.01).The job stressor of the social status and career development was indirectly significantly associated with SCL-90 mediated by PSQI(β=0.113,P＜0.05).And the job stressor of job environment and characters was directly (β=0.172,P＜0.01)and indirectly (β=0.184,P＜0.01) associated with PSQI mediated by SCL-90.Conclusion The higher the job stress,the more the mental health problem,and the poor the sleep quality among nurses.Job stressors have direct or in direct influence on psychological health and sleep quality,depending on the nature of job stressors.In addition,the result suggests that a bidirectional relationship exists between sleep quality and psychological health.

Current-status survey on job stressor and exhaustion among nursing staff in the catheter room of grade Ⅲ- A general hospitals / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To survey the current status of job stressor and exhaustion among nursing staff in the catheter room of grade Ⅲ-A general hospitals and to look for regularities.Methods 178 nursing staff coming from catheter room,operating room,and outpatient department of Shenzhou Hospital and Fengtian Hospital accepted questionnaires of Chinese Nursing Stressor Scale and Exhaustion Scale in Spring 2010.Results Chinese Nursing Stressor Scale indicated that scores of subitem and total score of job stressor in the catheter room were significantly higher than those in the outpatient department; however,there were no significant differences in scores of subitem and total score of job stressor between catheter room and operating room.On the other hand,Exhaustion Scale showed that scores of emotional exhaustion and job unconcerned feeling in the catheter room were significantly higher than those in the outpatient department,but scores of job achieved feeling in the catheter room were significantly lower than those in the outpatient department.There were no significant differences in Exhaustion Scale between catheter room and operating room nurses.Conclusions Job stressor and exhaustion were serious among nursing staff in the catheter room of grade Ⅲ-A general hospitals,which should cause the attention of management department.

Resident stress in the new postgraduate clinical training system / 医学教育

Postgraduate residents face formidable stress. Unfortunately, many residents withdraw from training programs because of reactions to stress, such as depression. We performed a comprehensive study to examine the working conditions and stress of residents to improve the conditions of resident-training programs and reduce levels of stress.<BR>1) The study examined 548 first-year residents starting postgraduate clinical training at 41 hospitals in Japan. A selfadministered questionnaire, which included questions about working conditions, job stressors, buffer factors, and stress reactions, was answered before and 2 months after the start of training.<BR>2) A total of 318 subjects completed the survey.Of these subjects, 80 (25.2%) had depression after the start of training.<BR>3) Job stress patterns of residents were characterized by high workload and extremely low “reward from work” and “Job control.”<BR>4) Many residents had depression after the start of training.To improve residency programs, program directors should recognize the specific characteristics of residents' job stress and focus on buffer factors.

Job stressors and other risk factors related to the risk of hypertension among selected employees in Jakarta.

Almost everyone, including employees, may develop hypertension. Several risk factors, including stresses in the work environment, are related to hypertension. The aim of this study is to identify these work-related risk factors in hypertension. A nested case-control study was conducted among office employees in Jakarta during May 2004. Employees with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension (based on the United States of America Joint National Committee on high blood pressure 2003), or those taking antihypertensive drugs were designated as cases. As controls were employees with no history of hypertension. One case was randomly matched by gender with two controls. All risk factors for cases and controls were counted as of the reference date of diagnosis for cases. There were 70 cases and 140 controls aged 25 to 65 years. Hypertension was found to be related to the qualitative and quantitative increase in the workload, career development, age, obesity, current and past smoking habits, and a family history of hypertension. However, it was noted that role of ambiguity, role of conflict, and personal responsibility did not increase the risk of hypertension. Compared to those with low qualitative job stressor, those who had moderate or high qualitative job stressor had a seven-fold risk to be hypertensive [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 7.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40-39.76]. In addition, relative to those who had low quantitative job stressor, those with moderate or high stressors were four times at risk to be hypertensive (ORa = 4.10; 95% CI = 1.06-15.90). In conclusion moderate or high qualitative and quantitative job stressors as well as career development increased risk hypertension. Therefore these stressors need to be prevented.

The study on the job stressors of nurses employed in military hospitals and relationship between job stressors and demography characters / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective This study was conducted to describe job stressors of nurses employed in military hospitals and relationship between job stressors and demography characters.Method 296 employed nurses were investigated by nurse job stressor questionnaires.Result Professional and career issues were the most frequently encountered job stressor among employed nurses,the other stressors in descending order were workload and time pressure,patient care and interaction,resource and environmental problems,management issues.Job stressors of nurses could be influenced by their age,job title,et al.Conclusion The finding suggest that effective stress management strategies should be relieve job stress.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Psychosicial Distress and Occupational Risks / 예방의학회지

The effects of cigarette smoking on the psychosocial distress, the absenteeism, the occupational injuries, and on the prevalence for the accidents were assessed in 795 male workers who had been employed since March 1994. The results show that the prevalence of current smokers were higher in young men, lower educational level, lower income, single men(unmarried or divorced), alcohol drinkers, and blue collar workers. In the bivariate analyses, the workers with the high job demand and low work control were more likely to smoke, although the relationship was not strong. Those who reported lower satisfaction on his job tended to smoke more. Mean scores of psychosocial well-being Index(PWI) were higher in current smokers than nonsmokers. For the hierarchical multiple regression analyses, interaction terms between cigarette smoking and job stressors(job demand and work control) were not significant. For smokers, the odds ratios for the occupational injuries, and the accidents were 1.40(95% confidence interval 0.77-2.57) and 1.96 (95% confidence interval 0.75-5.09), respectively. The mean absent day were 4.13 for smokers, 3.65 for nonsmokers, although the differences were not statistically significant. It seems that cigarette smoking had not caused any crucial effects on the psychosocial well-being status and the occupational risks. Some considerations for the further research on the relationship of cigarette smoking on the mental health status and the occupational risks were also discussed.