PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND THE SICK BUILDING-SYNDROME - A CASE-REFERENTSTUDY

The significance of the psychosocial work environment for the prevalen ce of symptoms compatible with the ''sick building syndrome'' (SBS) wa s studied in a case-referent study including 464 office workers, half of whom had symptoms of SBS. A questionnaire was distributed to all su bjects, and representatives of the organisations concerned were interv iewed. The aim of the study was to investigate the importance of psych osocial and organisational factors in explaining the prevalence of SBS symptoms among office workers. The results showed that psychosocial w ork characteristics, such as workload and job satisfaction, as well as worry and reorganisation are factors that have a significant impact o n the risk of developing the symptoms of SBS.