JOB STRAIN AND ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE, SERUM-CHOLESTEROL, AND SMOKING AS RISK-FACTORS FOR CORONARY HEART-DISEASE IN JAPAN

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.