N. Kawakami et al., JOB STRAIN AND ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE, SERUM-CHOLESTEROL, AND SMOKING AS RISK-FACTORS FOR CORONARY HEART-DISEASE IN JAPAN, International archives of occupational and environmental health, 71(6), 1998, pp. 429-432
Objective: To determine the effects of the job demands-control model o
n arterial blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, and smoking in mal
e daytime and rotating-shift workers in Japan. Methods: The survey was
conducted for all employees of an electrical factory in Japan using a
mailed questionnaire concerning three job stressors, i.e., job overlo
ad, work-pace control, and work-site social support. A blood sample wa
s taken at the same time. Data on 1 703 male daytime workers and 1 173
male rotating-shift workers were analyzed. Multiple logistic regressi
on or analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were employed to determine the e
ffects of the job stressors on systolic and diastolic blood pressure,
serum total cholesterol, and smoking with control for other covariates
. Results: Among daytime workers, systolic and diastolic blood pressur
es were highest in the ''high-strain'' (i.e., higher job overload + lo
wer work-pace control) group; ANCOVA indicated that a two-way interact
ion between job overload and work-pace control was significant (P < 0.
01). This tendency was not observed among rotating-shift workers. The
number of cigarettes smoked per day was greater in groups with lower w
ork-pace control and lower work-site social support among daytime work
ers (two-way interaction between these two job stressors, P < 0.05); i
t was greater in groups with lower work-site social support among rota
ting-shift workers (main effect of work-site social support, P < 0.05)
. Conclusions: Our study suggest that job strain as defined in the job
demands-control model is associated with increased systolic and diast
olic blood pressures in male daytime workers in Japan. Smoking might b
e affected by lower work-site social support.