Journal of Occupational Health最新文献

Objectives: There is a growing interest in understanding the long-term impact of employment status on psychological stress. We aimed to explore the association between socioeconomic status and psychological stress over a long-term follow-up period across the COVID-19 pandemic, employing the Kessler 6-Item Psychological Distress Scale (K6).

Methods: We evaluated K6 scores from the 2021 follow-up survey of NIPPON DATA2010 using a self-administered questionnaire. The association between employment status and changes in K6 scores over 11 years was examined. Multiple regression analyses were used to estimate both crude and adjusted differences in K6 score changes across various socioeconomic factors including employment category, annual household income, marital status, and household size. Analyses were stratified by age, gender, and prefectural population size.

Results: This study included 1532 participants with an average age of 54.9 years. Over 11 years (2010-2021), participants in both gender and age groups showed increases in mean K6 scores (men: 2.79 to 3.06; women: 3.15 to 3.56; <65 years: 3.27 to 3.47; ≥65 years: 2.37 to 3.08). Nonemployed participants, particularly homemakers, showed significantly greater increases in K6 scores, compared with full-time employees, especially among women, younger individuals, and those in densely populated areas, with a significant interaction with age.

Conclusions: Nonemployed individuals, especially homemakers, experienced greater psychological stress over the past 11 years than did their fully employed counterparts. Public interventions, including strengthened social connections and telemental health services, may help mitigate these disparities, enhance mental well-being, and foster a sense of belonging.

Objectives: This study examined whether management-level discussions on Health and Productivity Management (HPM) and the involvement of occupational health professionals in discussions are associated with workplace health promotion (WHP) program outcomes, as indicated by HPM evaluation.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from 2495 corporations that submitted the 2020 HPM Survey Sheets. Corporations were categorized into 3 groups based on the presence or absence of HPM discussions at management-level meetings and the attendance of occupational health professionals. The overall score and the deviation score for "assessment and improvement" were used as indicators of program outcomes. Multiple regression analyses were performed, adjusting for industry sector, company size, and number of occupational physicians and occupational health nurses.

Results: Corporations without HPM discussions at management-level meetings showed significantly lower scores on both indicators (overall score coefficient: -11.70; 95% CI, -12.83 to -10.53; "assessment and improvement" coefficient: -11.30; 95% CI, -12.50 to -9.97). In contrast, corporations with HPM discussions attended by occupational health professionals demonstrated significantly higher scores than those without such attendance (overall score coefficient: 5.39; 95% CI, 4.61-6.18; "assessment and improvement" coefficient: 5.15; 95% CI, 4.28-6.02). These associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that discussions about HPM at management-level meetings and the involvement of occupational health professionals are associated with WHP program outcomes. These results suggest that collaboration between top management and occupational health professionals in management reviews may contribute to the successful implementation of WHP programs.

Objectives: The cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains uncertain in the majority of affected individuals, but the influence of socioeconomic status on CKD progression has recently gained attention. We compared the risk of CKD progression among 18 occupational classifications using an annual health checkup database.

Methods: We used the annual health checkup data and health insurance claims data of the Japan Health Insurance Association in Kyoto prefecture between April 2012 and March 2016. The primary outcome for survival analysis was defined as a more than 30% change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from the first health checkup. We used the Cox proportional hazards model for time-to-event analyses to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% CIs for the primary outcome, adjusting for age, sex, eGFR, body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar, dyslipidemia, uric acid, urinary protein, and existence of kidney disease at first health checkup.

Results: We analyzed 239 506 employees, and 1736 (0.7%) individuals whose eGFR had decreased by 30% or more; the mean follow-up period was 2.8 years. When we compared the risk with that for "manufacturing," 5 categories of industries ("information and communications"; "transport and postal services"; "accommodations, eating and drinking services"; "living-related and personal services and amusement service"; "medical, health care and welfare") were associated with a decline in the increased risk of eGFR after adjusting for the confounding factors and/or mediators.

Conclusions: We provide evidence that the risk of CKD progression depends on occupational type. Further research is needed to confirm the mechanism and causal relationships involved.

Objectives: The current study aimed (1) to examine the associations between bidirectional work-family conflict, comprising work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC), and two mental health outcomes: psychological distress and mental disorder; and (2) to examine the associations between demographic variables and work-family conflict among Japanese working women.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 19 652 Japanese working women in June 2024. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and mental disorder was identified using a screening question about medical consultation or treatment. Work-family conflict was measured using the Work and Family Conflict Scale. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations between work-family conflict and mental health outcomes, whereas univariate linear logistic regression examined the associations between demographic variables and work-family conflict.

Results: Among participants, 9.5% reported psychological distress, and 5.3% reported receiving consultation or treatment for mental disorder. Severe WFC and FWC were significantly associated with psychological distress (WFC: odds ratio [OR] 4.94, 95% CI, 4.19-5.81; FWC: OR 3.44, 95% CI, 2.94-4.01; both P < .001) and mental disorder (WFC: OR 1.76, 95% CI, 1.46-2.12; FWC: OR 1.69, 95% CI, 1.40-2.04; both P < .001). Long working hours and caregiving responsibilities were strongly associated with WFC and FWC.

Conclusions: Work-family conflict is significantly associated with adverse mental health among Japanese working women. Organizations need to address this issue in the workplace, particularly regarding flexible work arrangements and caregiving support, to promote the mental well-being of working women.

Objectives: This study measured occupational status from the perspectives of occupational socioeconomic status, employment relationship, and class level, aiming to examine the effect of occupational status on depression among middle-aged and elderly people in China and determine whether being a state functionary plays a moderating role.

Methods: Panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (n = 28 645) were used and the year fixed-effects model was adopted. The 2-way interaction terms "state functionary × occupational status (the International Socioeconomic Index of Occupational Status [ISEI], the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale [SIOPS], and the Erikson and Goldthorpe class categories [EGP])" were added to examine whether being a state functionary could moderate the relationship between occupational status and depression.

Results: Occupational status was negatively correlated with depression (ISEI: coefficient = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.02; SIOPS: coefficient = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.02 to -0.002; EGP: coefficient = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.15). The 2-way interaction terms "state functionary × occupational status (ISEI/SIOPS/EGP)" were significant among all middle-aged and older participants. The 2-way interaction terms were also significant in the educated and urban subgroups.

Conclusions: Higher occupational status is a protective factor against depression among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, being a state functionary can reverse the relationship between occupational status and depression. We found that the higher the occupational status of state functionaries, the more severe their depression. We also found a moderating effect of being a state functionary in the educated and urban subgroups.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing nurses' posttraumatic growth (PTG) during the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in February 2023 across databases, including Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, for articles published between January 2020 and February 2023 related to PTG in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria were English-language articles, original research on nurses' PTG, and studies conducted after January 2020. Of 1089 identified articles, 142 were screened, and 27 were selected for final analysis. Data extracted from the articles included the author(s) name(s), the study's geographic location, publication year, study purpose, study design, participants, methods, measurement scales, results, and notes. PTG factors were extracted and grouped into 4 broad categories: COVID-related factors, nursing-related factors, factors in Tedeschi's PTG conceptual model, and other factors. Smaller categories were then created by inductively categorizing the factors based on similarities and differences.

Results: As factors of nurses' PTG during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 subcategories were organized under 4 categories. In addition to all factors from Tedeschi's PTG model, some COVID-related factors (eg, care context, organizational training), and some nursing-related factors (eg, work environment) were shown to be related to PTG. No significant relationships were found between almost all of the other factors, including sociodemographic attributes, and PTG.

Conclusions: Factors found in this study can help identify nurses' PTG facilitators and guide the development of interventions for future crises.

Objectives: Early detection of neurosensory injury among workers exposed to hand-arm vibration is crucial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic test performance of clinical point-of-care testing using a tuning fork and temperature rollers in relation to vibrotactile and thermal quantitative sensory testing.

Methods: We recruited 225 vibration-exposed workers who underwent clinical point-of-care testing using a Rydel Seiffer tuning fork and temperature rollers (25°C and 40°C) applied to the distal phalanges of the index and little fingers bilaterally. Quantitative sensory testing was conducted at the same locations. Sensitivity, specificity, and other measures of diagnostic test performance were calculated.

Results: The study sample consisted of 208 men and 17 women with a median (IQR) age of 38 (26) years, and with a median (IQR) hand-arm vibration exposure duration of 12 (21) years. Using vibrotactile quantitative sensory testing as the reference method, the sensitivity for the Rydel Seiffer tuning fork to detect reduced perception of vibration ranged from 30.0% to 61.1%, depending on the tested finger. The corresponding values for specificity were 91.1% to 94.4%. The sensitivity of temperature roller discrimination in relation to warm detection thresholds ranged from 31.6% to 48.2%, and the specificity from 82.7% to 87.5%. The corresponding sensitivity of temperature roller discrimination in relation to cold detection thresholds ranged from 28.9% to 42.5%, and the specificity from 86.0% to 94.7%.

Conclusions: The sensitivity of clinical point-of-care testing was rather low, indicating that quantitative sensory testing adds value to the diagnostic procedure.

Objectives: This study examined the characteristics of employees with low health interest using Breslow's Health Practice Index (HPI).

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2260 employees of a Japanese IT company was conducted in 2023. The association between the Health Interest Scale (HIS; range 0-36) and HPI (range 0-7), a predictor of healthy longevity, was examined using multiple linear and logistic regression. Additional analyses were conducted using median-split HIS groups (low: 0-23; high: 24-36).

Results: HIS was significantly lower among men, younger and unmarried individuals, and those without an appropriate body weight, but positively associated with HPI (β = .254, P < .001). HPI was significantly higher among less sedentary workers (β = .07, P < .001), non-management staff (β = .04, P < .05), and married individuals (β = .06, P < .05). HIS was associated with 6 of 7 health behaviors except Not snacking. After adjustment for HIS, women had higher odds of Not smoking (OR = 5.52; 95% CI, 2.96-10.3; P < .001) and Moderate use of alcohol (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.33-3.09; P < .05). Median-split analysis confirmed these results.

Conclusions: Interventions are needed to increase health interest among younger individuals, men, and those who are unmarried or without an appropriate body weight. Sedentary workers, managerial staff, and unmarried individuals showed lower adherence to HPI after adjustment for health interest, indicating the need for focused workplace interventions. Health interest was positively associated with HPI, but no significant association was found for snacking, which requires further investigation.

Objectives: To estimate the association between suicide deaths and both occupational skill level and educational attainment in the United States.

Methods: Suicide deaths, employment, education, and demographic data from the 2021 National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death Files, for ages 18-64 with a lifetime history of employment, were combined with comparable participants from the 2020-2022 Current Population Survey. Outcomes of interest were associations between suicide death and occupational skill level, assessed as a 5-level variable, and educational attainment. Logistic regression models were used to estimate these associations before and after adjusting for educational attainment, age, and sex, in each racial/ethnic subpopulation.

Results: We found a significant gradient in suicide death across occupational skill levels, with lower-skill occupations associated with higher suicide rates than higher-skill occupations. This gradient was more pronounced among non-Hispanic White (NHW) people and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) people than Hispanic people. However, upon controlling for educational attainment, this association was attenuated, indicating that the initial link was likely confounded by education.

Conclusions: The results suggest that educational attainment is a more robust predictor of suicide risk than occupational skill level. Targeted interventions addressing educational and ethnic disparities within higher-risk occupational groups can mitigate suicide risk.

Objectives: This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health status of self-employed workers by comparing their status before and during the pandemic, using nationwide data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Methods: The final study included 16 620 and 14 342 self-employed participants in the fifth (2017) and sixth (2020-2021) surveys, respectively. Musculoskeletal symptoms, systemic fatigue, headache, and eye strain, as well as mental health status, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Gender, age, education level, and income were adjusted for the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess pre- and peri-pandemic changes in the health status based on working conditions.

Results: Compared with the pre-pandemic period, all aspects of the health status of self-employed individuals surveyed during the peri-pandemic period showed deterioration. Back pain increased 3.4 times (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.44; 95% CI: 3.15-3.75) compared with the pre-pandemic period, followed by anxiety, which increased 2.1 times (adjusted OR 2.13; 95% CI: 1.79-2.54). For single-person businesses, the overall health status showed statistically significant deterioration, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of these groups during this period.

Conclusions: This study confirmed that the physical and mental health status of self-employed individuals significantly deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period. These findings suggest the need for government health protection policies for vulnerable groups, such as self-employed individuals, during future pandemics when social control measures are implemented.