TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between repetitive work and endocrinological indicators of stress

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

AU - Kaergaard, Anette

AU - Andersen, Johan Hviid

AU - Netterstrøm, Bo

PY - 2003/7/1

Y1 - 2003/7/1

N2 - In the present study the impact of repetitive work on endocrinological indicators of stress were studied in a sample of 96 female sewing machine operators mainly carrying out repetitive work and 46 members of a control group, also women, mainly carrying out process monitoring. Individuals performing highly repetitive and high-speed precision tasks were hypothesized to have more catabolic (measured as total plasma cholesterol, glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c), immunoglobulin-A (IgA) and prolactin, urinary catecholamines and cortisol) and less anabolic metabolism (DHEA-S and free testosterone) compared to individuals in occupations with more varied work. Repetitive work was assessed on the basis of job category, classifications based on observations of work task, and self-reported psychosocial work environment. The sewing machine operators were found to exhibit more catabolic (measured as plasma HbA1c) and less anabolic metabolism (measured as free testosterone) compared to members of the control group. No differences were observed between job categories in other measured endocrinological indicators. Participants classified as having repetitive work had higher concentrations of IgA and lower concentrations of free testosterone and urinary adrenaline compared to participants having non-repetitive work. In conclusion the results indicate that adverse psychosocial work environment was associated with increased catabolic metabolism. An association between self-reported adverse psychosocial work environment and low anabolic metabolism could not be demonstrated.

AB - In the present study the impact of repetitive work on endocrinological indicators of stress were studied in a sample of 96 female sewing machine operators mainly carrying out repetitive work and 46 members of a control group, also women, mainly carrying out process monitoring. Individuals performing highly repetitive and high-speed precision tasks were hypothesized to have more catabolic (measured as total plasma cholesterol, glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c), immunoglobulin-A (IgA) and prolactin, urinary catecholamines and cortisol) and less anabolic metabolism (DHEA-S and free testosterone) compared to individuals in occupations with more varied work. Repetitive work was assessed on the basis of job category, classifications based on observations of work task, and self-reported psychosocial work environment. The sewing machine operators were found to exhibit more catabolic (measured as plasma HbA1c) and less anabolic metabolism (measured as free testosterone) compared to members of the control group. No differences were observed between job categories in other measured endocrinological indicators. Participants classified as having repetitive work had higher concentrations of IgA and lower concentrations of free testosterone and urinary adrenaline compared to participants having non-repetitive work. In conclusion the results indicate that adverse psychosocial work environment was associated with increased catabolic metabolism. An association between self-reported adverse psychosocial work environment and low anabolic metabolism could not be demonstrated.

KW - Free testosterone

KW - HbA

KW - Job control

KW - Job demands

KW - Repetitive work

KW - Sewing machine operators

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1642496765&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/02678370310001628899

DO - 10.1080/02678370310001628899

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:1642496765

VL - 17

SP - 264

EP - 276

JO - Work and Stress

JF - Work and Stress

SN - 0267-8373

IS - 3

ER -