THE RELATION BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF SYMPTOMS AND OTHER HEALTH INDICATORS IN WORKING MEN AND WOMEN

Simple symptom counts are widely used indicators of ill-health in heal th survey research. However, there has only been little research aimed at a better understanding of symptom counts. The purpose of this stud y was to explore the number of symptoms (a summary score derived from 10 unspecific self-reported symptoms) in a 'healthy' population. We re analysed data on a sample of 850 employed men and women (Berne Workpla ce Health Project). Stepwise ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to study the relation of the number of symptoms to contextual, pe rson related, behavioural, and health-related variables. In neither me n nor women were any of the sociodemographic indicators significantly associated with the number of symptoms. Of the work-related variables, low job discretion and adverse work environment were significantly as sociated with the number of symptoms and there was a statistical trend for high job demands. In women, dissatisfaction with salary was the o nly work-related variable which was significant. The private context, on the other hand, seemed to be more influential for women than for me n and there was a statistical trend for strain at home. Among the pers on-related factors studied, age and emotional problems were significan tly associated to the number of symptoms in both men and women. Psycho logical ill-health and negative future orientation were significant on ly in men and immersion only in women. Physical inactivity in leisure time was the only behavioural variable found to be significantly assoc iated to the number of symptoms. Among the health-related factors, poo r self-rated health was significant for both gender groups, while obes ity was significant only in men. Only categories of variables being hy pothesized to be unfavourable in terms of health were associated with a higher number of symptoms. Most of the associations found seem to be theoretically meaningful. Despite methodological provisos, our findin gs support a conception of the number of symptoms as an indicator of g eneral ill-health.