An 18-year study of white-collar workers found that stressful jobs that are perceived to be poorly paid can double a man’s risk of heart disease. This finding highlights the need for a healthier working environment.
Work strain and high effort with low reward are each psychosocial stressors associated with heart disease risk, and this combination turns out to be particularly dangerous for men, according to a new scientific study.
- Men who are exposed to stressful working conditions and feel underpaid despite exerting high effort have a 2% higher risk of heart disease compared to men without these psychosocial stressors. It was double that.
- In a study of approximately 6,500 white-collar workers in Canada, the combined effects of work strain and effort-reward imbalance were similar in magnitude to the effect of obesity on the risk of coronary heart disease. .
- Results were inconclusive about how work stress affects women’s heart health.
Men who have stressful jobs and feel like they’re putting in a lot of effort for low pay are more likely than men without those stressors, according to a new study published Sept. 19 in the journal The risk of heart disease was twice as high compared to Circulation: cardiovascular quality and outcomesa peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
“Given the enormous amount of time people spend at work, understanding the relationship between work stressors and cardiovascular health is critical for public health and worker well-being,” said study lead author Mathilde. -Lavigne Robichaud, RD, MS, PhD Candidate, Demography. He is a member of the Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit at the CHU de Quebec-University Laval Research Center in Quebec, Canada. “Our research highlights the urgent need to proactively address stressful working conditions to create healthier working environments that benefit employees and employers.”
Heart disease: the biggest concern
According to , heart disease holds the dubious distinction of being the leading cause of death in the United States. American Heart Association statistics. In 2020 alone, approximately 383,000 Americans died from heart disease.
Research shows that two psychosocial stressors can increase the risk of heart disease: work strain and an imbalance between effort and reward at work. However, few studies have examined combined effects.
“Job strain refers to a work environment in which employees face a combination of high job demands and low job control. High demands are accompanied by heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and many responsibilities. However, low control means employees have little say in decisions and how their work is performed,” explained Lavigne Robichaud.
“Effort-reward imbalance is when employees put in a lot of effort at work, but the rewards they receive in return, such as pay, recognition, or job security, are inadequate or inadequate compared to their efforts. It occurs when there is perceived inequality. For example, if you are constantly aiming for the top but feel like you are not getting the recognition or reward you deserve, you may think this is an imbalance between effort and reward. I call.”
Main research results
The research revealed the following:
- Men who reported experiencing either work strain or effort-reward imbalance had a 49% increased risk of heart disease compared to men who did not report these stressors.
- Men who reported both work strain and effort-reward imbalance had twice the risk of heart disease compared to men who did not report experiencing multiple stressors.
- The effect of psychosocial stress at work on women’s heart health was inconclusive.
- For men, the combined effects of work strain and effort-reward imbalance were as large as the effects of obesity on the risk of coronary heart disease.
“Our results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing stressors from the work environment may be particularly effective for men, and that these stressors may also be associated with other common conditions such as depression. Lavigne-Robichaud said: “This study’s inability to establish a direct association between psychosocial work stressors and coronary heart disease in women means that the complex interactions between various stressors and women’s heart health may be complex.” This indicates the need for further research into its effects.”
Potential interventions and wider impact
Interventions can include a variety of approaches, such as providing support resources, promoting work-life balance, increasing communication and giving employees more control over their work, she said.
“The U.S. workforce is the most stressed in the world, and these workplace stressors can be as harmful to health as obesity and second-hand smoke,” said Dr. said Eduardo J. Sanchez, Chief Medical Officer for Prevention. American Heart Association. “This study adds to the evidence that the workplace should be prioritized as a means to promote cardiovascular health for all. The American Heart Association is committed to supporting science-backed policy and cultural changes through policy and cultural change. , remains committed and committed to providing employers with the resources and information they need to proactively support the health of their employees and communities.”
Research details
Research background and details:
- The researchers studied about 6,500 white-collar workers, with an average age of about 45 and without heart disease, and followed them for 18 years, from 2000 to 2018.
- They looked at health and workplace survey information from 3,118 men and 3,347 women in various jobs in Quebec. The survey included employees in senior management, professional, technical, and clerical positions. Educational levels ranged from no high school diploma to some college.
- The researchers measured work strain and effort-reward imbalance using validated questionnaires, and used established health databases to obtain heart disease information.
One limitation of the study is that the researchers primarily surveyed men and women in white-collar jobs in Quebec, Canada, so the results may not fully represent the diversity of the American workforce. It’s a possibility. But Lavigne-Robichaud said the findings could also apply to white-collar workers in the United States and other high-income countries with similar employment structures.
Reference: “Psychosocial stressors at work and coronary heart disease risk in men and women: an 18-year prospective cohort study of combined exposures” Mathilde Lavigne Robichaud, Xavier Trudel, Denis Talbot, Alain Talbot Miro, Mae Gilbert Ouimet, Michel Vezina, Daniel Rollin, Clermont E. Dionne, Neil Pearce, Gilles R. Dajeunet, Chantal Brisson, September 19, 2023. Circulation: cardiovascular quality and outcomes.
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009700
