Physical and psychosocial working conditions as explanations for occupational class inequalities in self-rated health.

BACKGROUND: Socio-economic health inequalities are well documented, but efforts to explain health inequalities are less. However, previous studies suggest that working conditions provide potential explanations for inequalities in health. METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey data, collected...

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Publicado en:European Journal of Public Health Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 458 - 464
Autores principales: Kaikkonen R, Rahkonen O, Lallukka T, Lahelma E
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Oct2009
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Oct2009
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      pub: Oxford University Press / USA
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        atl: Physical and psychosocial working conditions as explanations for occupational class inequalities in self-rated health.
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          Kaikkonen R
          Rahkonen O
          Lallukka T
          Lahelma E
        affil: Department of Living conditions, Health and Well-being, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
      sug:
        subj:
          Environment
          Health Status
          Work Environment
          Work Environment Psychosocial Factors
          Adult
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Female
          Human
          Locus of Control
          Male
          Middle Age
          Occupational Exposure Adverse Effects
          Occupational Health
          Occupations and Professions
          Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
          Sex Factors
          Socioeconomic Factors
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Female
          Male
      ab: BACKGROUND: Socio-economic health inequalities are well documented, but efforts to explain health inequalities are less. However, previous studies suggest that working conditions provide potential explanations for inequalities in health. METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey data, collected from municipal employees of the City of Helsinki, aged 40-60 years (n = 8960, response rate 67%) in 2000-02, were examined using binomial regression analysis. Socio-economic position was measured by six occupational social classes ranging from top managers to manual workers, and the outcome was self-rated health (SRH). Key physical and psychosocial working conditions and work arrangements were included as explanatory factors for inequalities in health. RESULTS: Occupational class inequalities in SRH were clear among women [prevalence ratio (PR) 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54-2.32] and men (PR 1.78, 95% CI 1.40-2.25). Heavy physical workload explained a half of the health inequalities among women and almost one-third among men. Physical and chemical exposures at work explained one-fifth of the health inequalities among women and a half among men. Job control explained 24% of the men's and 40% of women's inequalities, whereas job demands widened the inequalities by 13-14%. The effects of shift work and working hours were negligible. In the fully adjusted model, 60% of the women's and 32% of the men's inequalities in SRH were explained. CONCLUSION: Physical working conditions explained a large part and job control, a somewhat smaller part of socio-economic inequalities in SRH. Improving physical working conditions and increasing job control provide potential routes to reduced inequalities in health among employees.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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