scholarly journals Non-Preferred Work and the Incidence of Spinal Pain and Psychological Distress—A Prospective Cohort Study

Author(s):  
Eva Skillgate ◽  
My Isacson Hjortzberg ◽  
Petra Strömwall ◽  
Johan Hallqvist ◽  
Clara Onell ◽  
...  

Mental illness and psychological distress are global concerns. This study aimed to investigate the association between having non-preferred work and the incidence of spinal pain, psychological distress, and spinal pain with concurrent psychological distress, and if associations are modified by sleep disturbance. A prospective study of 4285 participants 23–62 years old was conducted, from years 2007 to 2010. Participants reported their work situation as preferred/non-preferred regarding profession/workplace with a high/low possibility to change. Psychological distress was measured with the General Health Questionnaire 12 and spinal pain with questions about neck/back pain. Binominal regression analyses calculated relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Non-preferred work with a low possibility to change was associated with a higher incidence of spinal pain (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2–2.6) and psychological distress (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4–2.4) compared to preferred work. The RR was 1.4 (95% CI 0.9–2.1) for spinal pain and 1.3 (95% CI 1.0–1.7) for psychological distress among those with a high possibility to change. Non-preferred work yielded a higher incidence of spinal pain with concurrent psychological distress (RR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0–3.7). Sleep disturbance did not modify associations. A replication based on newer data is needed to confirm the results. In conclusion, non-preferred work is associated with a higher incidence of spinal pain and psychological distress, especially if the possibility to change job is low.

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 954-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Gao ◽  
Daniel Stark ◽  
Michael I. Bennett ◽  
Richard J. Siegert ◽  
Scott Murray ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2021-107473
Author(s):  
Liam Wright ◽  
Jenny A Head ◽  
Stephen Jivraj

BackgroundSeveral studies show that youth unemployment is associated with worse mental health later in life. However, existing studies report results for only one model, or a few models, and use regression adjustment to support causal claims. We use two novel methods to address these gaps in the literature.MethodsWe use data from Next Steps, a cohort study of English schoolchildren who entered the labour market in the aftermath of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, and measure mental health using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) at age 25. We use specification curve analysis and a negative control outcome design (a form of placebo test) to test whether associations between youth unemployment and later GHQ-12 scores are sensitive to model specification or are likely to be confounded by unobserved factors.ResultsWe find that the association between unemployment and later GHQ-12 is qualitatively similar across 99.96% of the 120 000 models we run. Statistically significant associations with two placebo outcomes, height and patience, are not present when regression adjustments are made.ConclusionsThere is clear evidence that youth unemployment is related to later mental health, and some evidence that this cannot be easily explained by unobserved confounding.


2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 977-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Hamer ◽  
Nico T. Malan ◽  
Kobus Scheepers ◽  
Muriel Meiring ◽  
Leonè Malan ◽  
...  

SummaryThe risk of cardiovascular disease is dramatically increasing in Africans (black). The prothrombotic stress response contributes to atherothrombotic disease and is modulated by depressive symptoms. We examined coagulation reactivity to acute mental stress and its relation to psychological well-being in Africans relative to Caucasians (white). A total of 102 African and 165 Caucasian school teachers underwent the Stroop Color-Word Conflict test. Circulating levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were measured before and after the Stroop. Cardiovascular reactivity measures were also obtained. All participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the General Health Questionnaire-28 for the assessment of depressive symptoms and total psychological distress, respectively. After controlling for covariates, resting levels of VWF, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were higher in Africans than in Caucasians (all p-values ≤0.006). Depressive symptoms and psychological distress were not significantly associated with resting coagulation measures. Stress reactivity in VWF (p<0.001) and fibrinogen (p=0.016), but not in D-dimer (p=0.27), were decreased in Africans relative to Caucasians with Africans showing greater reactivity of total peripheral resistance (p=0.017). Depressive symptoms, but not general psychological distress, were associated with greater VWF increase (p=0.029) and greater fibrinogen decrease (p=0.030) in Africans relative to Caucasians. In conclusion, Africans showed greater hypercoagulability at rest but diminished procoagulant reactivity to acute mental stress when compared with Caucasians. Ethnic differences in the vascular adrenergic stress response might partially explain this finding. Depressive symptoms were associated with exaggerated VWF reactivity in Africans relative to Caucasians. The clinical implications of these findings for Africans need further study.


2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 252-255
Author(s):  
Alex Mears ◽  
Sarah Pajak ◽  
Tim Kendall ◽  
Cornelius Katona ◽  
Jibby Medina ◽  
...  

Aims and MethodTo explore relationships between different styles of working and measures of occupational pressure in consultant psychiatrists. A random sample of 500 consultant psychiatrists were sent a questionnaire about working patterns and lifestyle factors, with other sections using validated tools (such as the 12-item General Health Questionnaire; GHQ).ResultsThere were 185 useable questionnaires returned (an adjusted response rate of 39%). Significant relationships were identified between job content and GHQ and burnout scores, indicating that occupational pressures are rendering some consultant posts ‘problem posts', leading to problematic levels of psychological distress among some consultants.Clinical ImplicationsAlthough consultant psychiatrists are more satisfied than not with their jobs, steps need to be taken to address the causes of ‘problem posts', to reduce attrition in the most pressured individuals.


1996 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 365-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne Tyrrell ◽  
Howard Smith

This study measured levels of psychological distress among a sample of Irish occupational therapy students. Students from all four undergraduate classes (n=102) were surveyed, using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Over 40% of the students scored as having a ‘just significant clinical disturbance’ on the GHQ-28. Mean GHQ scores (or symptom levels) varied throughout the 4-year course and were highest just before examinations and during fieldwork placements. Students who had unhealthy diets or who smoked had significantly higher levels of psychiatric symptomatology. The prevalence of psychological distress among occupational therapy students was similar to that found in students from four other disciplines; however, the university students had much higher levels of symptomatology than the non-university peer group. The article concludes with some suggestions for dealing with stressful aspects of professional education and some recommendations for further research.


2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1051-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Hochwälder

In the present study it was empirically explored how work-situation dimensions, personality dimensions, and personality-by-situation interactions are related to burnout and general mental ill health. Questionnaire data from 694 subjects were analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses. The results suggest that: (a) personality should not be disregarded in theoretical discussions and empirical studies of burnout and general mental ill health; (b) personality can, to some extent, condition how the work environment dimensions affect an individual with regard to various aspects of burnout and general mental ill health; (c) attention should be given to the fact that some measures of burnout and mental ill health are more dependent on situational factors while other measures are more dependent on personality factors.


2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (10) ◽  
pp. 717-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paressa Daniilidou ◽  
Paul Carding ◽  
Janet Wilson ◽  
Michael Drinnan ◽  
Vincent Deary

Objectives: We sought to investigate whether a brief period of training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve the treatment of functional dysphonia by a speech and language therapist and ameliorate the psychological distress associated with this condition. Methods: In a consecutive cohort design, a speech and language therapist treated a small cohort (n = 15) of dysphonic patients with voice therapy alone. After a brief period of CBT training, she treated the next cohort of dysphonic patients (n = 13) with CBT-enhanced voice therapy. Pretreatment and posttreatment measures were taken of voice quality and voice-related quality of life. The General Health Questionnaire 28 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess psychological distress and general well-being. Results: All voice measures improved significantly in both cohorts. Both groups improved significantly on the General Health Questionnaire 28, with the CBT group improving significantly more than the control group. Only the CBT group improved significantly on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression subscale). Conclusions: Despite limitations of size, design, and between-group baseline differences, the results support the hypothesis that the addition of CBT skills to existing voice therapy is both feasible and clinically effective in the treatment of functional dysphonia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (T3) ◽  
pp. 116-119
Author(s):  
Thomas Hendriko ◽  
Elmeida Effendy ◽  
Vita Camellia

AIM: We looked for differences in abstinence influence on Psychological Distress Scores, Social Dysfunction Scores, Total General Health Questionnaire – 12 (GHQ-12), and Total Quality of Life Scores on men with Methamphetamine dependence in the Therapeutic Community. METHODS: This study was conducted a numerical comparative analytical analysis paired with twice measurements with subject retrieval done using consecutive sampling. The participant of this study was 47 subjects who selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Found psychological distress score of the abuser was p ˂ 0.001, different with social dysfunction score there was no significant difference where the score was p = 0.062, the total GHQ-12 score was a significant difference where the score was p = 0.025 while in the total quality of life score (SF-36) there was a significant difference with the score of p ˂ 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: After abstinence, quarantine was found to improve attitude, behavior, cognitive, and social function such as appropriate communication and active social relationship with others compared with before abstinence quarantine.


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