RESPONSE OF HOSTILE INDIVIDUALS TO STRESSFUL CHANGE IN THEIR WORKING LIVES - TEST OF A PSYCHOSOCIAL VULNERABILITY MODEL

Background. According to the psychosocial vulnerability model, the hea lth of hostile individuals is at greater risk than that of non-hostile individuals, due partly to lesser ability of the former to cope with psychosocial stress situations. We examined whether hostile individual s were more vulnerable than others to health problems when faced with stressful changes in their working lives. Methods. Hostility, sickness absence and psychosocial stressors in 866 local government employees over a 5-year period, which included severe economic decline, were inv estigated. Hostility was measured by a questionnaire. Data on medicall y certified sickness absence were obtained from the records of the loc al authority. Information about exposure to psychosocial stressors aft er assessment of hostility was also derived from these records, and fr om reports from the subjects. Results. Exposure to stressors during th e period of economic decline was related to increased rates of sicknes s absence. In men, hostility increased risk of sickness absence after exposure to stressors only in cases of absence because of trauma. In w omen, hostility increased risk of absence through sickness overall and absence because of musculoskeletal disorders in individuals facing st ressors such as severe organizational downsizing, high or increased le vels of job demands or negative change in work. Findings were adjusted for sickness absence at the beginning of the decline, socioeconomic b ackground and behavioural risk factors. Conclusions. The psychosocial vulnerability model was partly supported. However, heightened vulnerab ility through hostility may differ between the sexes, since it was mor e evident in the women studied than in the men.