Job control, job demands and social support at work in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in MONICA 1995, Goteborg

Background Job control and work environment are related to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but there is limited understanding of the independent risks associated with these factors. Objective To investigate the association between psychosocial work characte ristics and biological risk factors for both sexes for a random population sample in Goteborg, Sweden. Design A cross-sectional study. Methods We used an age-stratified random sample of men and women aged 25-64 years comprising 1200 men and 1412 women, from which 746 men and 872 women responded to the invitation for screening, which included questionnaires a nd physical/laboratory investigations in 1995. Results Women had lower job control than did men (P = 0.00001); job demands were equal and social support at work slightly higher among women (P = 0.0 4). Job control was positively related to education and social group. Smoki ng women had low job control and high job demands. Women with high grades o f psychological stress had low job control and low social support at work ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.01). For both sexes job demands were high (P = 0.0001) among those who reported high psychological stress. Men with high job contr ol and high social support at work were more physically active during leisu re time. Subjects with job strain had low social support (P = 0.01). Job-st ress factors were not related to biological coronary risk factors. Conclusions Women had lower job control than did men. Job control was posit ively related to education, social class and physical activity. Psychosocia l factors were not related to biological coronary risk factors. (C) 1999 Li ppincott Williams & Wilkins.